Griffin Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Walsh, Colorado 81090
Sunday, May 9, 1982 15:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK LARGE PIPES THAT WERE LAYING ON THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD RUN SATISFACTORLY AS LONG AS THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP WAS ON. WHEN THE BOOST PUMP WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE WOULD CEASE TO OPERATE. THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP (TITAN, MODEL G6, SN: 575587W) WOULD NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUEL PRESSURE TO SUSTAIN ENGINE OPERATION. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE SEALS AND BEARINGS WERE WORN. NO RECORDS OR HISTORY OF THE PUMP COULD BE FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City WALSH
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81090
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport GRIFFIN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OKO
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 75
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1993
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4050B
NTSB Number DEN82DA082
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 17-31ATC
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-31ATC
Aircraft Serial Number 31101
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 1416
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAWRENCE L. BITNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 57
Aircraft Owner City WALSH
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81090
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LAWRENCE L. BITNER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 57
Operator City WALSH
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 81090
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OKO
Departure City WALSH
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1455
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City OKLAHOMA CITY
Destination State OK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --