N39818 is a 1972 Bellanca 17-30A. It is a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft with 4 seats, powered by a Cont Motor IO 520 series rated at 285 horsepower. The registration is active, with the registrant based in Crescent City, FL. Its standard airworthiness certificate was issued in Nov 1972. It has been registered to its current owner since Mar 2003. This page also carries 1 NTSB event.
- 54 years old
- 1 of 427 Bellanca 17-30A
2003
1972
That's everything on file so far — TailWiki checks the FAA registry daily and adds new entries as N39818's record changes.
The pilot reported that during the approach to runway 29, the airplane was stable, and that the touchdown was “smooth”. The pilot described that the airplane handled as expected in flight and during the approach and that there was a wind from 010 degrees at 8 knots. After touchdown, as he lowered the nosewheel, the airplane made an uncontrolled turn to the left which he attempted to correct with full right rudder and right brake. The airplane struck a runway light before departing the runway and coming to rest in a ditch.
The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical defects with the rudder system controls or the nosewheel steering system. The nosewheel landing gear upper leg, lower drag strut, and right-hand lower steering rod were displaced and exhibited fractures consistent with overload as a result of impact damage. Based on this information, it is most likely that the pilot’s inadequate compensation for the prevailing crosswind from the right resulted in a loss of control during landing and the subsequent runway excursion.
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