Accident Bellanca 17-30A N6627V, Tuesday 24 September 1985

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Date:	Tuesday 24 September 1985
Time:	16:35 LT
Type:	Bellanca 17-30A
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N6627V
MSN:	30-290
Total airframe hrs:	1223 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO-520-K
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Burlington, WA - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	East Sound, WA (S17)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE PLT SMELLED SMOKE & HEARD A BACKFIRE, THEN THE ENG LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD ON ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT STRUCK A DITCH & WAS DAMAGED. A VISUAL INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT EXHAUST MUFFLER HAD FAILED AT ITS OUTLET. THIS ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE ENG COMPARTMENT & DAMAGE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, ALTERNATOR & MAGNETO WIRING (P-LEADS). WITH P-LEAD FAILURE, THE MAGNETOS WOULD HAVE BEEN INOPERATIVE. AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE, AD 76-23-03, WHICH REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE EXHAUST SYS EACH 100 HRS, HAD LAST BEEN COMPLIED WITH ON 8/18/82. HOWEVER THE ACFT HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR ONLY 50 FLT HRS SINCE THAT DATE.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: