Bellanca 7ECA accident near La Porte, Texas, October 30, 2021
On October 30, 2021 at about 7:37 pm local time, a 1973 Bellanca 7ECA, registered N86612, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near La Porte, Texas (La Porte Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the carburetor float assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2021 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · La Porte Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA, built 1973 · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N86612 · registry record · serial 1008-74
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while operating in the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost total power and he performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted fence poles and sustained substantial damage. Examination revealed that when the fuel valve was turned on, fuel ran continuously through the carburetor and out the bottom of the engine. Examination of the carburetor float assembly revealed a detached pontoon, which likely resulted in the loss of engine power due to excess fuel/flooding. The detached pontoon was an older brass style that was subject to service bulletins for replacement due to a history of mechanical failures.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,151 hours in all; 274 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 17, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,317 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2021; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T41 Houston TX at 7:35 pm
- Destination: T41 Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12/3, 4,165 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from KEFD, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEFD 301950Z 30010KT 10SM CLR 24/01 A2990
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 5, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos of Airplane | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence with FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Exam Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Service Bulletins on Brass Floats | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.