Pilot Debrief

BELLANCA 7GCBC near St. Petersburg, FL — 2009-12-24

Final reportERA10LA101
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Date
2009-12-24
Location
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Aircraft
BELLANCA 7GCBC
Registration
N8634V
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

While returning from a 50-minute banner towing flight, the airplane's engine began losing power. The pilot determined that the airplane would be unable to reach the destination airport and elected to perform a forced landing to a golf course. He decided not to detach the banner the airplane was towing, partly out of concern for persons and property on the ground, and partly so that it could act as a drag device during the subsequent off-airport landing. During the landing, when the pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid several golfers standing in the airplane's path during rollout, the right wing struck a tree resulting in substantial damage. A brief postaccident test run of the engine showed no evidence of any mechanical abnormalities. Temperature and dewpoint conditions at the time of the accident were favorable to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power settings.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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