History of Flight
On January 7, 2019, about 1334 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registration N8849V, was substantially damaged when it impacted Lake Chickamauga while maneuvering near Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. The commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by the pilot, who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated from Dallas Bay Sky Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee, about 1328.
A witness reported observing the airplane flying over the lake, making a tight U-turn at a low altitude—about two or three treetop lengths above the water—which the witness thought might have been an aerobatic maneuver. The airplane then spiraled straight down counterclockwise and impacted the lake. The witness contacted emergency services and assisted responders in locating the wreckage.
A GoPro camera was mounted on each horizontal stabilizer. Only the camera on the right stabilizer captured the accident sequence. The video showed that the airplane took off about 13 minutes after recording began. Approximately 5 minutes later, it flew over water and descended closer to the surface for about 1 minute, then remained level for 22 seconds. Subsequently, the airplane pitched up more than 30° above the horizon and began rolling to the left. It continued rolling and entered a left spin, during which the right aileron and flaps were in an up position. The airplane then departed controlled flight and impacted the water. No in-flight structural failure or loss of propeller rpm was observed in the video.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The four-seat, low-wing, fixed-tricycle landing gear airplane was manufactured in 1971. It was powered by a 300-horsepower Continental IO-520 engine equipped with a constant-speed propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on June 1, 2018, at which time the airframe and engine had accrued 2,156 total hours since new.
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, helicopter, instrument airplane, and instrument helicopter. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on February 1, 2018. At that time, the pilot reported a total flight experience of 3,800 hours. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot's hard-copy logbook ended in 1985, and an electronic log for the airplane began in 2013. Information about flight time between those dates was not available. The electronic log indicated the pilot had accumulated 357 hours in the accident airplane make and model, with 17 hours flown during the 90 days preceding the accident.
Meteorological Information
Recorded weather at Lovell Field (CHA), Chattanooga, Tennessee, located about 19 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1353 was: wind from 170° at 12 knots gusting to 21 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 15,000 feet, few clouds at 20,000 feet, broken ceiling at 30,000 feet, temperature 19°C, dew point 4°C, and altimeter setting 30.12 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airframe was recovered from the lake; the empennage had been cut by recovery personnel for transport. An FAA inspector noted that the cockpit and cabin area were crushed and both wings were highly fragmented. Control continuity was confirmed from the elevator and rudder to the cockpit area. Aileron cables extended from the cockpit area to their respective wings. The front seat four-point harnesses remained intact.
The engine was recovered about 5 months after the airframe. The crankshaft fracture surfaces exhibited jagged shear lips and rust. The engine was examined by the manufacturer under FAA supervision. Manual rotation via an accessory drive gear produced thumb compression in all six cylinders. Corrosion was present on cylinder cooling fins and fuel system components. The rocker cover on cylinder No. 6 was broken and partially separated, exposing the exhaust valve stem and valve spring assembly; the rocker arm for that cylinder's exhaust valve had separated. All other rocker covers were intact. An electronic borescope inspection showed all intake and exhaust valves were intact with normal combustion deposits. The propeller was not recovered.
Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Hamilton County, Tennessee, Medical Examiner performed an autopsy, which determined the pilot's cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected dextromethorphan (a nonsedating cough suppressant) and its metabolite dextrorphan in urine specimens but not in cavity blood. Chlorpheniramine and doxylamine (sedating antihistamines) were detected in urine specimens, with inconclusive results in cavity blood. Ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication, was also detected in urine specimens.