Bellanca 7ECA accident near Wawayanda, New York, March 25, 2007
On March 25, 2007 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N53874, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wawayanda, New York (Sussex airport). It was an instructional 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
A failure of the crankshaft idler gear, which resulted in a total loss of engine power while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2007 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wawayanda, New York · Sussex · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N53874 · registry record · serial 1135-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing stalls when the airplane experienced a sudden, total loss of engine power. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the left crankcase half idler gear shaft was dislodged from its respective mounting boss. The two idler gear shaft retaining bolts were broken. The idler gear that interconnected the crankshaft and camshaft remained on the idler shaft and was observed with a "U"-shaped fracture at the gear ring area that separated two full teeth. Optical examination of the gear fracture revealed fracture face markings, including arrest lines consistent of fatigue progression, which was estimated to cover more than 95 percent of the fracture surface. Both gear shaft retaining bolts were separated near their respective heads. The bolts displayed severe circumferential wear through the threaded shanks that removed the majority of the bolt diameters. High magnification viewing of the fractures in these areas on both bolts revealed features indicative of multiple origin fatigue propagating through the remaining cross sections. The lock plate was fractured in several locations and heavily distorted. The bolt holes in the lock plate were severely elongated and enlarged over their original diameter. While it was likely that loosening of the bolts precipitated the gear failure, no conclusive evidence was uncovered to confirm that scenario. The engine's most recent annual inspection was performed about 4 months prior to the accident. At that time, the engine had been operated for 1,226 hours since it was overhauled in 1985, and 639 hours since it was disassembled and reassembled after a propeller strike during 2001.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FWN Sussex NJ at 1:00 pm
- Destination: FWN
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.46 inHg
- Observation at 1:11 pm from FWN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.