# NTSB MIA95LA149: Bellanca 8KCAB, N7631S, Miami, FL, June 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1995, 10:04 local (14:04 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.669712, -80.29927 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6697&lon=-80.2993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37781/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA149 ## Probable cause TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF THE AIR INDUCTION AT THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR BY PAPER FROM AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE SERVICING BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED BY THE PILOT DURING THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - induction air ducting - blocked(total) (cause) - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - induction air ducting - undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vehicle - object - tree(s) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, SHORTLY AFTER ACTIVATION OF THE ALTERNATE AIR CONTROL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE AND A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM REVEALED A PIECE OF PAPER IN THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR AIR INLET. THE ENGINE WAS PLACED ON A TEST STAND, THE PAPER WAS REMOVED, AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND FOUND TO OPERATE TO NEAR FULL RATED RPM. THE ONLY DISCREPANCY NOTED WAS EXCESSIVE MAGNETO DROP WHEN OPERATING ON THE RIGHT MAGNETO. THIS WAS DUE TO A BROKEN SLEEVE (INSULATOR) OF ONE OF THE IGNITION LEADS. REVIEW OF THE ENGINE LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR WAS REMOVED ON MAY 8, 1995, AND REINSTALLED 20 DAYS LATER. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR ABOUT 3.8 HOURS SINCE THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR HAD BEEN REINSTALLED. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1995, about 1004 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N7631S, registered to APT Aviation, Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a road east of the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. A vehicle struck by the airplane received minor damage and the driver of the vehicle sustained serious injuries indirectly related to the collision. The flight originated about 0940 from the Opa-Locka Airport, Opa-Locka, Florida. The pilot stated that at various times during the flight as well as just before the engine failure, he exercised the alternate air (heated, unfiltered air) control to verify operation. The only discrepancy noted was that the handle would return to the alternate position if not held to the normal (filtered) position. During cruise flight at 1,000 feet inbound to the Tamiami Airport, the engine failed. Emergency procedures included verification that the fuel selector was in the "on" position, the auxiliary fuel pump was turned "on" and the mixture control was pushed to the "full rich" position. The engine failed to respond and the pilot executed a forced landing to the north on the southbound lanes of U.S. 1. During the landing roll the roof of a vehicle was scraped by the right wing of the airplane which then collided with a tree. The airplane yawed clockwise and came to rest upright with the left main landing gear attached only by the brake line. Examination of the cockpit at the accident site revealed that the alternate air control was nearly fully engaged. The airplane was then recovered and further examination of the air induction system revealed a piece of paper in the air inlet of the servo fuel injector. The paper was about 28 inches long and had numerous areas of blue/green stains. The engine with propeller installed were removed from the airframe and placed on a test stand. The paper was removed and the engine was started and operated to near full rated rpm. The only discrepancy noted was an excessive magneto drop when operating on the right magneto. The sleeve (insulator) at the spark plug end of the No. 1 cylinder bottom ignition lead was found to be broken. Review of the overhaul manual for the engine revealed that the No. 1 bottom ignition lead is routed to the right magneto. Review of the engine logbook revealed that the servo fuel injector had been removed on May 8, 1995, and reinstalled on May 28, 1995. The airplane had been operated for about 3.8 hours since the servo fuel injector was reinstalled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7631S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7631S-2002-09-30), registration cancelled 2002-09-30, S/N 247-76, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 247-76 - Airframe hours: 1750 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-320-E1B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lawrence M. Ploucha - Registered owner: Apt Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 1994, 53 hours before - Departed: OPF - Destination: TMB - Airport: TMB, Kendall-Tamiami Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,982 total, 68 in this make and model, 1,772 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TMB, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950611017759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950611017759A), Jun 11, 1995: Bbavia 8KCAB, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach. Landed on road. Scraped auto roof. Driver lost control. Paper blocked servo afr inlet. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.