# NTSB WPR11CA329: Bellanca 7KCAB, N16TP, Albany, OR, July 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 14, 2011, 12:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Albany, OR - Coordinates: 44.669998, -123.036392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6700&lon=-123.0364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administraton - NTSB case key (mKey): 81115 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81115/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81115 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA329 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to ensure the fuel cap was secured after refueling, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after flying for approximately 1.7 hours, the airplane's engine started to run rough. He contacted the nearest air traffic control tower and reported the problem while trying to turn back to an airport he had just passed. After making a 180-degree turn, the airplane's engine lost power and the pilot, who was unsure he could make it back to the airport without unduly endangering people on the ground, opted to land in an empty field. The landing was uneventful; however, during the landing roll the airplane encountered a divot in the ground and nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel filler cap on the right wing was missing and there were several blue stain streaks aft of the filler port to the trailing edge of the wing. The fuel filler cap was located in the run up area where the pilot had last refilled the airplane's fuel tank. Further examination of the fuel system found it to be intact with just 3 tablespoons of fuel in the fuel sump and no fuel in the main fuel lines to the fuel injector. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after flying for approximately 1.7 hours his engine started to run rough. He contacted the nearest control tower and reported the problem while trying to turn back to an airport he had just passed moments ago. After making a 180 degree turn the airplane's engine died and the pilot, who was unsure he could make it back to the airport without unduly endangering people on the ground, opted to set the aircraft down in an empty field. The landing was uneventful however on the landing roll the aircraft encountered a divot in the ground and nosed over on its back. After the aircraft was righted the FAA inspector on scene noticed the fuel filler cap on the right wing was missing and there were several blue stain streaks aft of the filler port to the trailing edge of the wing. After further investigation by the FAA inspector the fuel filler cap was found in the run up area where the pilot had last refilled his tank. Further examination of the fuel system found it to be intact with just 3 tablespoons of fuel in the fuel sump and no fuel in the main fuel lines to the injector when the boost pump was turned on. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16TP), registered now, S/N 302-72, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 302-72 - Airframe hours: 2480 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gorman Shane E - Registered owner: Gorman Shane E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2011, 7 hours before - Departed: KSIY, Siskiyou County, CA - Destination: KSLE, Salem Airport, OR - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KALB, Albany Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 8, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,275 total, 1,289 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KSLE, 10 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 20110714015119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110714015119A), Jul 14, 2011: Bellanca 7KCAB, Albany, OR, Substantial damage. On July 14, 2011 at approximatly 11:30 am N16TP, a Bellanca 7KCAB departed siskiyou county airport (siy) in montaque, CA, enroute 190 NM to salem, Oregon… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81115. 565 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Inspection Report (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspection%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Blue streaks . From the FAA (item 3, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351483&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Blue%20streaks%20.%20From%20the%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Fuel cap missing. From the FAA (item 4, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Fuel%20cap%20missing.%20From%20the%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.