Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Union, Connecticut 06281
Friday, November 24, 2000 10:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While descending through 3,000 feet, the airplane's engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and made a forced landing. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing fuel tanks were intact and empty of fuel. Two of the three left wing fuel tanks were found separated from the left wing, and were ruptured. However, a half-gallon of fuel was found in one of the tanks. The fuel was absent of debris and water. There was no evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site, and the fuel selector was set to the right wing tanks. A 15-gallon auxiliary tank was located in the rear seat area and was full of fuel. Examination of the fuel selector placard revealed there was no indication of an 'aux' position; however, the selector could be moved beyond the 'left' tank position, and aligned with a white spot worn on the trim cover. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed there were no mechanical deficiencies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel supply, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/24/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City UNION
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06281
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 954 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID ORH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1009
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 40
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11153
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 24 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1105
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 4 2001 12:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N280H
NTSB Number IAD01LA016
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bellanca
Aircraft Model BL-17-30A
Aircraft Series Identifier BL-17-30A
Aircraft Serial Number 73-30579
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 1608
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARINO ABREU
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City BALDWIN
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11510
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 FRG
Departure City FRAMINGDALE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORH
Destination City WORCESTER
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2001 4:02AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --