Pilot Debrief

BELLANCA 7KCAB near Renton, WA — 2020-06-12

Final reportWPR20LA180
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Date
2020-06-12
Location
Renton, WA, USA
Airport
RNT
Aircraft
BELLANCA 7KCAB
Registration
N36339
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

Maintenance personnel’s inadequate post-maintenance inspections that resulted in the total loss of engine power due to a blockage in the air intake.

NTSB narrative

The airplane had recently undergone an annual inspection, and the accident flight was the first flight since being out of maintenance. After making a normal departure and touch-and-go landing, the pilot receiving instruction applied full power. As the airplane reached an altitude of about 400 feet above ground level (agl), the engine abruptly stopped producing (total) power. The airplane could not maintain level altitude and during the subsequent off-airport landing, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with a tree. Postaccident examination revealed that the air induction box contained a piece of bunched up paper that likely restricted the inlet cavity. As part of the annual inspection, a repair person completed a small fiberglass patch and painting on the lower cowling. He could not recall the specific repair on the airplane but said he often placed paper in the induction to prevent debris from entering the engine. After the maintenance, the airplane sat for a day with the lower cowling not fastened but maintenance personnel did not recognize the blockage. They also did not find the paper during the post-maintenance inspections and returned the airplane into service with an unsafe condition.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Proper inspection of air induction system after maintenance could have prevented power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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