Pilot Debrief

BELLANCA 17-30A near Antlers, OK — 2013-01-07

Final reportCEN13LA132
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Date
2013-01-07
Location
Antlers, OK, USA
Aircraft
BELLANCA 17-30A
Registration
N222EG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB narrative

The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power about 17 minutes into the cross-country flight. The pilot stated that he performed a forced landing into a small field and that the nose and left main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. An on-site examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank and fuselage-auxiliary fuel tank were full of fuel but that the right wing fuel tank was empty. The empty right wing fuel tank appeared to be undamaged, and no evidence of a fuel leak was found. The cockpit fuel gauges confirmed the observed fuel load distribution. The fuel tank selector valve was found in the right wing fuel tank position. The lack of usable fuel in the undamaged right wing tank and the fuel tank selector valve's position indicate that the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel tank selection before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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