# NTSB NYC88LA002: Bellanca 17-30A, N39857, Newport, VT, October 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1987, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Newport, VT
- Location: 44.8882° N, 72.2286° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NORTHEAST KINGDOM INTL (EFK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8882&lon=-72.2286&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36027
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36027/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA002

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,cap - loose (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 75' AGL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERG LANDING. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HAD A VERY LOOSELY FITTING FUEL CAP & WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES & SUMPS. THE PLT SAID HE HAD CHECKED THE FUEL DURING THE PREFLIGHT, BUT APPARENTLY THE SAMPLES WERE ALL WATER WHICH HE MISTOOK AS FUEL. THE ACDNT OCCURRED AFTER RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39857](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39857-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 73-30498, built 1972 (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: 73-30498
- Airframe hours: 2740
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald W. Parker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1987
- Destination: TURNERS FALLS, MA
- Airport: EFK, Newport State, runway 18, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 331 total, 331 in this make and model, 321 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19871006058839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871006058839A), Oct 6, 1987: Blanca 1730A, Newport, VT, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout. Crash landed off end of runway. Large amounts of water in fuel. Fuel caps were loose fit.

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.

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