# NTSB SEA85LA230: Bellanca 17-30A, N6627V, Burlington, WA, September 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1985, 16:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place: Burlington, WA
- Coordinates: 48.619525, -122.869552 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6195&lon=-122.8696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 76-23-03 R1](https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-23-03-R1) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40251
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85LA230
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40251/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA230

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, takeoff - initial climb
  - exhaust system,muffler - failure,total (cause)
  - exhaust system - leak (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - burned (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto - inoperative (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE PLT SMELLED SMOKE & HEARD A BACKFIRE, THEN THE ENG LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD ON ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT STRUCK A DITCH & WAS DAMAGED. A VISUAL INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT EXHAUST MUFFLER HAD FAILED AT ITS OUTLET. THIS ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE ENG COMPARTMENT & DAMAGE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, ALTERNATOR & MAGNETO WIRING (P-LEADS). WITH P-LEAD FAILURE, THE MAGNETOS WOULD HAVE BEEN INOPERATIVE. AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE, AD 76-23-03, WHICH REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE EXHAUST SYS EACH 100 HRS, HAD LAST BEEN COMPLIED WITH ON 8/18/82. HOWEVER THE ACFT HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR ONLY 50 FLT HRS SINCE THAT DATE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6627V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6627V-2013-09-25), registration cancelled 2013-09-25, S/N 30290, built 1970 (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: 30-290
- Airframe hours: 1223
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Byron D. Otten
- Last inspection: Annual, October 29, 1984, 1,208 hours before
- Destination: S17, EAST SOUND, WA
- Airport: 758, Skagit Regional/Bay View, runway 28, 5,364 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,325 total, 110 in this make and model, 223 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

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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