TOMAHAWK, WI, USA
N8218R
BELLANCA 17-30
THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT AND FIVE MINUTES AFTER HE HAD SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES BEFORE IMPACTING A SWAMP. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED UNDER WATER IN THE SWAMP FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS UNTIL THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE WRECKAGE REMOVED. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE AMOUNT OF REMAINING FUEL COULD NOT ACCURATELY BE DETERMINED AT THE TIME OF EXAMINATION DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME WHICH THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN THE SWAMP.
On June 17, 1994, about 1445 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30, N8218R, was destroyed following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in a swamp near Tomahawk, Wisconsin. No injuries were reported by the commercial pilot, minor injuries were reported by two passengers, and serious injuries were reported by one passenger. The local pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan. The flight originated from Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the day before the accident and flew a total of one hour. The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, approximately fifteen minutes after departing Tomahawk, Wisconsin, the engine sputtered and quit about five minutes after he had switched fuel tanks. All attempts to restart the engine failed. The airplane struck trees before impacting a swamp. The airplane remained in the swamp for approximately three months before the pilot was able to make arrangements to have the wreckage removed. Postaccident investigation revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The amount of remaining fuel could not accurately be determined at the time of examination due to the length of time which the airplane remained in the swamp.
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN IN PREVENTING THE PILOT FROM MAKING A SAFE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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