# NTSB NYC07CA076: Bellanca 17-30A, N404CT, Farmingdale, NJ, March 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 12, 2007, 04:59 local (09:59 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NJ - Coordinates: 40.186943, -74.124725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1869&lon=-74.1247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65409/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify the amount of fuel onboard before takeoff. Factors in the accident were the airplane being under fueled, the refueler's experience, the airplane's inoperative fuel gauges, unsuitable terrain for landing, and night lighting conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - lack of experience, fbo personnel (contributing factor) - aircraft service - improper, fbo personnel (contributing factor) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (contributing factor) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - landing gear - collapsed ## Analysis The pilot asked the certificated airline transport pilot (ATP) to take the controls while the pilot/owner attempted an unsuccessful engine restart. The ATP executed a forced landing to uneven terrain, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed an absence of fuel, even though 40 gallons were ordered, and paid for by the pilot/owner at the last refueling stop, about 45 nautical miles away. At the refueling stop, the pilot/owner asked a passenger to show the refueler the location of the fuel caps. The refueler only had experience pumping jet fuel to single point aircraft. Per the refueler's request, the passenger advised him when 40 gallons was pumped. The refueling took place in a dark area, and the light for the fuel truck meter was inoperative. The passenger misread the meter, and instead of receiving 40 gallons of fuel, the airplane received 4 gallons. The mistake was noted by another FBO employee after the airplane had departed, but he was unable to contact the pilot/owner. The airplane's fuel gauges were inoperative, and indicated half full, even when empty. Neither pilot visually confirmed the amount of fuel onboard prior to takeoff. ## Factual narrative According to pilot/witness statements, the Bellanca 17-30A was at 5,000 feet, in night visual meteorological conditions, when the engine lost power. The certificated commercial pilot/owner was at the controls, but asked the certificated airline transport pilot (ATP) to take the controls while the pilot/owner attempted an unsuccessful engine restart. The ATP executed a forced landing to uneven terrain, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed an absence of fuel, even though 40 gallons were ordered, and paid for by the pilot/owner at the last refueling stop, about 45 nautical miles away. At the refueling stop, the pilot/owner asked a passenger to show the refueler the location of the fuel caps. The refueler only had experience pumping jet fuel to single point aircraft. Per the refueler's request, the passenger advised him when 40 gallons was pumped. The refueling took place in a dark area, and the light for the fuel truck meter was inoperative. The passenger misread the meter, and instead of receiving 40 gallons of fuel, the airplane received 4 gallons. The mistake was noted by another FBO employee after the airplane had departed, but he was unable to contact the pilot/owner. The airplane's fuel gauges were inoperative, and indicated half full, even when empty. Neither pilot visually confirmed the amount of fuel onboard prior to takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N404CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404CT-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 73-30562, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 17-30A - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 73-30562 - Airframe hours: 3587 - Engines: Continental IO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth Howard - Registered owner: Narwhal Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ACY, Atlantic City, NJ - Destination: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BLM, Monmouth Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 750 total, 550 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 4,600 total, 200 in this make and model, 170 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: BLM ## 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 20070312004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070312004539A), Mar 12, 2007: Blanca 1730A, Belmar/Farmingd, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) On Monday, March 12, 2007, N404CT landed at atlantic city, new jersey (kacy). The owner of N404CT ordered 40 gallons of fuel from the local fixed base… 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.