Synopsis
On December 30, 2023, about 1415 central standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A airplane, N678MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Washington, Missouri. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Event Sequence
The pilot reported that the engine start and run-up were normal, as was the takeoff. Shortly after lifting off, he reduced to climb power. At about 400 ft above ground level, while initiating a left turn to crosswind, the engine lost power. As the pilot tightened the turn to avoid trees, the airplane inadvertently entered an aerodynamic stall and spin. He recovered from the spin but could not arrest the descent before impacting an open field. The airplane came to rest upright, with damage to the fuselage, left wing, and empennage.
Previous Incident
The pilot stated that about three weeks before the accident, a similar loss of engine power occurred after takeoff. In that instance, he landed in level grass short of the runway without damage. A mechanic examined the airplane and noted that the diffuser (flame cone) was missing from the muffler.
Examination Findings
A postrecovery examination revealed no anomalies with the core engine assembly. Testing of the throttle and control assembly was also unremarkable. However, testing of the fuel pump showed flow rates that did not meet the manufacturer’s specification. Partial disassembly of the pump identified a piece of debris within the vapor ejector cavity. The NTSB Materials Laboratory determined the material was similar to nitrile rubber commonly used in fuel lines.
The examination noted that the engine was equipped with two mufflers, both intact and securely installed. Neither muffler had a diffuser, nor were brackets normally used to support a diffuser present. There was no evidence of spot welds used to secure diffuser supports. The airplane’s maintenance records did not show any recent work on the fuel pump or fuel lines.