Bellanca BL17-30 accident near Waller, Texas, October 12, 2000
On October 12, 2000 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bellanca BL17-30, registered N4882V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waller, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power during climb to cruise due to the failure of the crankshaft counterweight. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2000 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waller, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca BL17-30
- Registration
- N4882V · no longer on the register · serial 30124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During climb to cruise, approximately 1,100 feet agl, the pilot heard a 'loud sound' from the engine, followed by a 'hard vibration.' The pilot turned toward the airport and then the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field near the airport. The airplane struck a tree and impacted terrain. A teardown examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured at the lead bushing hole in the number 2 cheek counterweight housing. The crankshaft 'bump' surface at the fractured leading end exhibited polishing from the counterweight hitting the surface. The polishing could only occur if the rear pin had escaped and the counterweight stood up, hitting the camshaft and crankcase as it trailed through the engine. The counterweight housing had fractured due to overload.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 225 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,359 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1999; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3X57 at 11:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 169°F (76°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.