Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081
Sunday, July 21, 1985 14:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF POWER IN CRUISE FLT. THE PLT REPORTED HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT TANK, & AFTER APRX 3 MINUTES, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. HE STATED THAT REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE FUTILE. HE NOTED THAT AFTER THE POWER LOSS, THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED OFF. WHEN HE TURNED ON THE AUX FUEL PUMP, THERE WAS NO FUEL PRESSURE INDICATION. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK CONTAINED 6 1/2 INCHES OF FUEL & THE LEFT MAIN TANK CONTAINED 1 1/4 INCHES OF FUEL (MAIN TANKS PLACARDED 19 GAL CAPACITY). BOTH THE LEFT & RIGHT AUX TANKS WERE EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1420
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SHEBOYGAN
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53081
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1346 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID OSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 805
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1581
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 820
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28958
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7315V
NTSB Number CHI85LA307
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-30
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-30
Aircraft Serial Number 30164
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1530
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BERNIE HUENSCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8465 E. COSTILLA PLACE
Aircraft Owner City INGLEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80112
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WASHINGTON IS
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1335
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SBM
Destination City SHEBOYGAN
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --