NTSB Factual Report

On September 6, 2003, at 0854 central daylight time, a Bellanca 14-13-2, N74467, sustained substantial damage when it landed short of runway 23 (4,509 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) during a precautionary landing at the Quad City International Airport (MLI), Moline, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed MLI at 0800 en route to Brodhead Airport (C37), Brodhead, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported the fuel pressure was fluctuating during cruise flight so he decided to return to MLI. He climbed to 4,500 feet above mean sea level (msl). He used the wobble pump to increase the fuel pressure, but then he noticed that the oil pressure was dropping. The pilot reported that he thought the fuel pump might be pumping fuel into the engine crankcase. He reported the windshield was starting to be covered with oil and fuel spray.

The pilot contacted Moline Approach Control and was cleared to land on runway 23. The pilot reported he was high and at 120 mph with the gear down, so he decided to pull the power back and lower the flaps. When the pilot realized that he was going to be short of the runway, he reapplied power but the engine did not respond. He reported he got low on the approach to runway 23 and had to maneuver to avoid buildings and wires. The airplane impacted a road embankment, resulting in the main landing gear separating off and hitting a telephone junction box before skidding to a stop.

The pilot reported, "I had everything under control until I pulled the power to lower the flaps. Bad decision."

A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. He reported that the diaphragm of the engine driven fuel pump had deteriorated, and was allowing fuel to be pumped into the engine crankcase.

The airplane was a 1948 Belanca 14-13-2D, serial number 1580. The engine was a 150 horsepower Franklin engine, Model 6A4-150-B3.

The aircraft logbooks indicated that the engine had been "Repaired," not overhauled, in September 1991. The aircraft total time was 2,257 hours, and the engine tach time was 991.74 hours. There was no entry concerning the engine driven fuel pump.

The last annual inspection was conducted on June 18, 2003. The aircraft total time was 2,289 hours, and the engine tach time was 1020.38 hours. Between the time the engine had been "Repaired" in September 1991 and the annual inspection on June 18, 2003, the airplane had flown 32 hours. There was no entry in the logbook that the engine driven fuel pump was inspected during the annual inspection.

The total aircraft time at the time of the accident was 2,296 hours, and the engine tach time was 1027.43 hours. It had flown 7 hours since the annual inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

The partial failure of the engine driven fuel pump and fuel starvation. An additional cause was the pilot misjudging the proper glidepath and his improper in-flight decision during the precautionary landing to pull back the power and lower the flaps prior to making the runway. Additional factors included the road embankment and the pole.