BELLANCA 17-30A

Full Narrative

On January 7, 2013, at 1412 central standard time, a Bellanca model 17-30A airplane, N222EG, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Antlers, Oklahoma. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by RAM Incorporated, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight departed from McAlester Regional Airport (MLC), McAlester, Oklahoma, at 1355, and had the intended destination of Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU), Georgetown, Texas.

The pilot reported that the accident occurred during the first flight since a recent annual inspection. Approximately 17 minutes into the flight, at 3,500 feet mean sea level, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he performed a forced landing into a small field, where the nose and left main landing gear collapsed during landing roll. The firewall and left wing were substantially damaged during the accident.

The airplane's FAA Type Certificate Datasheet listed a total fuel capacity of 83 gallons (75 gallons usable), with each wing fuel tank holding 34 gallons (30 gallons usable) and the fuselage-auxiliary fuel tank holding 15 gallons (15 gallons usable). The pilot indicated that the airplane had 78 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel onboard at departure. He also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

On January 8, 2013, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site. The FAA examination established that the left wing fuel tank and fuselage-auxiliary fuel tank were full of aviation fuel; however, the right wing fuel tank was void of any usable fuel. The right wing tank appeared to be undamaged and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. The cockpit fuel gauges further confirmed the observed fuel load distribution. The fuel tank selector valve was found positioned to draw fuel from the empty right wing tank.