# NTSB WPR12LA185: Bellanca 17-30A, N80SV, Cloverdale, CA, April 27, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 2012, 10:32 local (17:32 UTC) - Place: Cloverdale, CA - Coordinates: 38.77222, -122.988609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7722&lon=-122.9886&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83494/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83494 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA185 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power during climb due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the initial climb, about 2,000 feet above the ground, he switched to the auxiliary fuel tank and the engine lost power. He applied full throttle and mixture, as well as established a glideslope to return to the airport. The airplane descended faster than the pilot expected and impacted terrain short of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The right, left, and auxiliary fuel tanks were all about a quarter full. The airplane flight manual states that the fuel selector valve should be on the main tank containing the most fuel during takeoff and landing. The auxiliary tank should only be used in level flight. During a climb, with the auxiliary fuel tank about one-quarter full, it is likely that fuel within the tank was insufficient to exit the tank through the fuel feed and therefore starved the engine of fuel. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 2012, about 1032 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N80SV, sustained substantial damage to the wings during an off airport landing near Cloverdale, California. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant was uninjured. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated as a personal cross country flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Cloverdale Municipal Airport (060), Cloverdale, California, about 1028. The pilot reported that during the initial climb, at about 2,000 feet above the ground, he switched the fuel selector to the auxiliary fuel tank and the engine lost power. He applied full throttle and mixture control, and established a glide slope to return to the airport. The airplane’s sink rate was greater than he had expected and the airplane landed in a vineyard about ¼ of a mile short of the runway. During the landing sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. During a post-accident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, thumb compression was confirmed on all cylinders and spark was obtained from the magnetos. The magneto switch was also examined and no anomalies were noted. Fuel was visually noted in both main fuel tanks and the auxiliary fuel tank. The airplane’s master switch was turned on and the left main fuel tank gauge indicated slightly more than ¼ fuel remaining in the left main tank, the right main fuel tank gauge indicated slightly less than ¼ fuel remaining in the right main tank. The auxiliary fuel tank gauge indicated approximately ¼ fuel remaining in the tank. In the performance section of the Bellanca Viking 17-30 Airplane Flight Manual, it states “Takeoff and land with fuel selector valve on main tank containing most fuel. Use fuel from auxiliary tanks in level flight only.” In the limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual, it states that a placard should be placed on the fuel selector valve which states: “Use aux tank in level flight only.” The FAA Inspector reported that this placard was present in the airplane; however, it was covered by the airplane’s sheepskin interior. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80SV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80SV-2018-02-23), registration cancelled 2018-02-23, S/N 80-30971, built 1979 (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: 80-30971 - Airframe hours: 2575 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wimmer Curt - Registered owner: Wimmer Curt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2012, 1 hours before - Departed: O60, Cloverdale, CA - Destination: PAO, Palo Alto, CA - Airport: O60, Cloverdale Municipal Airport, runway 32, 3,147 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,564 total, 384 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: STS, 18 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 20120427007949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120427007949A), Apr 27, 2012: Bellanca 17-30A, Cloverdale, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot performed a take off and was climbing through 2000 feet when he had switched the fuel selector switch to the aux tank and the engine quit. Pilot turn… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83494. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 555 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of Email - Federal Aviation Administration Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20-%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Record of Email - Federal Aviation Administration Inspector Regarding Placards (item 4, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20-%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%20Regarding%20Placards-Master.PDF - Excerpt from Airplane Flight Manual - Fuel Tanks used for Takeoff (item 5, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Airplane%20Flight%20Manual%20-%20Fuel%20Tanks%20used%20for%20Takeoff-Master.PDF - Excerpt from Airplane Flight Manual - Fuel Selector Valve Placards (item 6, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Airplane%20Flight%20Manual%20-%20Fuel%20Selector%20Valve%20Placards-Master.PDF - Photo of the Fuel Selector Valve - Courtesy of the Federal Aviation Administration (item 7, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20the%20Fuel%20Selector%20Valve%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration-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.