Accident Bellanca 17-30 N7312V, Wednesday 5 March 1997

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Date:	Wednesday 5 March 1997
Time:	17:15 LT
Type:	Bellanca 17-30
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N7312V
MSN:	30167
Total airframe hrs:	1877 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO-520-D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Aikens, SC - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Executive
Departure airport:	Raleigh, NC (KRDU)
Destination airport:	Augusta, GA (KDNL)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot experienced a loss of engine power en route to his destination. He initiated an emergency descent for a forced landing. The airplane collided with two trees in the intended landing area. According to the pilot, the airplane had a fuel endurance of 4.8 hours, and he had flown about 3.0 hours since the last refueling. Examination of the engine assembly disclosed that there was a fuel leak around the shaft in the metering unit. The nature of the leak was a steady stream, such that, it was not possible to flow test the unit. Smaller leaks were also found in the fuel pump from the shaft seal and the adjustable orifice o-ring. The control linkage on the fuel metering unit and the throttle body were excessively worn. No fuel was recovered from the fuel system during on-site examination.

Probable Cause: excessive wear of the fuel metering unit/shaft, which resulted in a fuel leak and premature exhaustion of the fuel supply.

Accident investigation: