Accident Bellanca 17-30A N39854, Sunday 2 June 1985

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Date:	Sunday 2 June 1985
Time:	11:00 LT
Type:	Bellanca 17-30A
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N39854
MSN:	30483
Total airframe hrs:	1104 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO-520-K
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	El Paso, TX - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Alamogordo, NM
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PLT FIRST SMELLED, THEN OBSERVED SMOKE COMING INTO THE COCKPIT FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENG QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA OFF THE RWY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT & THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE MUFFLER ON THE LEFT SIDE, WHICH HAD BEEN OVERHAULED & INSTALLED ON 7/25/83, HAD FAILED NEAR THE OUTLET, ALLOWING HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE ENG COMPARTMENT & BURN A WIRE BUNDLE CONTAINING THE MAGNETO WIRING (P-LEADS). A LARGE SECTION WAS MISSING FROM THE REAR HALF OF THE MUFFLER.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: