Dates

Event

1946

Constructed as a 14-13.

21 November 1946

To Fliteways, Inc Milwaukee, WI with new c/r NC86916.

14 March 1947

To Ace Flying Club, Milwaukee, WI keeping c/r NC86916.

20 October 1948

To Pioneer Aviation, Inc Escanaba, MI keeping c/r NC86916.

18 February 1949

To Brummet Aircraft Company, Jefferson City, MO keeping c/r NC86916.

26 April 1950

To George Lane, Boise, ID keeping c/r NC86916.

14 November 1951

To Jack Mulkey, Lakeview, OR keeping c/r NC86916.

12 February 1954

To Klamath Aircraft Service, Klamath Falls, OR keeping c/r NC86916.

3 May 1954

To Crane Motor Company, Estacada, OR keeping c/r NC86916.

19 January 1956

Certificate of airworthiness for N86916 (14-13, 1278) issued.

15 February 1956

To Architectural Plastics Corp, Eugene, OR keeping c/r NC86916.

25 September 1956

To John E. Eldridge, Port Angeles, WA keeping c/r NC86916.

By 21 May 1966

To unknown owner with c/r N86916.

21 May 1966

Crashed.
The incident occurred at Boulder, MT, United States.
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

6 October 1974

To William Walker, Seattle, WA keeping c/r NC86916.

26 September 1977

To James Osborne, Federal Way, WA keeping c/r NC86916.

28 June 1983

To James Johnston, Anchorage, AK keeping c/r NC86916.

24 October 1986

To Kenneth Haller Sr., Puyallup, WA keeping c/r NC86916.

15 May 1987

Restored.
Brad Donner comments (February 2015): Rebuilt by Gerald Dennis McCormick of Yelm Aviation at Western Airpark (06WN). This was an extensive rebuild by a noted Bellanca expert.

10 October 1990

To Drew A. Peterson, Yelm, WA keeping c/r NC86916.

Circa 1 May 1994

Photographer: Larry Lowenkron
Notes: NC86916 at the 1994 Watsonville, CA antique airplane fly-in. Many thanks to Larry Lowenkron for sharing this picture.

19 June 1994

To Darwin Remboldt, Santa Maria, CA keeping c/r NC86916.

9 July 1994

To Richard Dick Hulme, Darwin Rembold keeping c/r NC86916.

2 December 1994

To Hulme Richard A Cotrustee, Santa Maria, CA with new c/r N86916.

25 June 2013

To Richard A. Hulme Trustee, Santa Maria, CA keeping c/r N86916.

3 February 2015

Photographer: Michael Wiskus
Notes: NC86916 on the ramp just prior to undergoing a pre buy inspection. Note that the left flap is extended, but the right is retracted. This was caused by a broken retraction spring on the left flap, which was fixed during the inspection.

3 February 2015

Photographer: Michael Wiskus
Notes: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 engine with the cowling and spinner removed for the pre buy inspection. This engine has just over 200 hours since overhaul and was found to be in excellent condition. The prop is a Kinetics manufactured Aeromatic F200. Cleveland wheels and brakes were installed during the 1986 restoration.

3 February 2015

Photographer: Michael Wiskus
Notes: Okay, no jokes about the Loran and the Terra VHF radios. Very clean panel with updates that were appropriate when the airplane was restored in 1986. The Loran is about to find a home in a garbage can, where it can keep the Terra radios company. Everything will get replaced with size appropriate Garmins. Note the beautiful condition of the panel itself and the Bellanca logos on the yokes.

3 February 2015

Photographer: Michael Wiskus
Notes: Beautiful attention to detail on the engine. Note the clean line and hose installation, the new mufflers, and the immaculate stainless steel firewall.

3 February 2015

Photographer: Michael Wiskus
Notes: Another nice view of the 150hp Franklin.

3 February 2015

Photographer: Michael Wiskus
Notes: Interior details on this airplane are incredible. The gold velour is now seriously out of style, but it looks, feels, and smells practically new so there is no hurry to update it.

3 February 2015

Photographer: Michael Wiskus
Notes: Note the detail work for the dome light housing and the intricate piping stitched into the fabric where the sidewall panel meets the headliner.

12 February 2015

To Apogee Investments/Brad Donner with new c/r NC86916.
Purchased from the estate of the late Richard Hulme.

12 February 2015

Photographer: Jamie Treat
Notes: I want to give a special thanks to Jamie Treat for all he has done for my little collection. Jamie and his team at Aircraft Restoration and Repair are outstanding artisans and mechanics. He has transformed my Fairchild into a work of art and he has brought the Bellanca back to life after 17 years in storage. Here is a nice view of the Bellanca from the loft of its hangar.

Brad Donner comments (February 2015): Mr. McCormick will soon travel to the Dallas Fort Worth area and see NC86916 for the first time Iin nearly 30 years. It should be a nice reunion.

28 February 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Detail shot of the rudder and vertical fins during preparation for the airplanes first flight in several years. See below for details on the mechanical aspects of this work.

February 2015

Brad Donner comments (2 March 2015): NC86196 has been in storage for several years. Although stored inside and carefully maintained, the airplane still required a thorough annual inspection prior to return to flight status. The inspection revealed surprisingly few discrepancies, all of which were the result of years of storage. In mid - late February, logistics were put in motion to get parts and supplies to Santa Maria, CA in preparation for the airplanes return to service. In late February, I traveled to Santa Maria to work on he airplane. With the help of George, Jose, Sehon, and several other generous folks, work commenced on NC86196 with the goal of getting her safely back in service.

1 March 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: The primary focus of the preparation work leading up to the test flight is mechanical. Resolve known discrepancies, address components that have deteriorated from lack of use, test components that can be tested on the ground, and look for other discrepancies. But at the end of each day, I spend some time cleaning the airplane up. Here is the right wing after cleaning and a bit of polish.

1 March 2015

Michael Martindale comments (1 March 2015): For three weeks, my buddy Brad has been talking about this wooden airplane he bought. My imagination is in high gear: Lockheed Vega? Cessna T-50 Bobcat? The Spruce Goose? Brad is into carpentry - he is not particularly good at it, but he likes it, so a wood airplane makes sense for him. As pictures of the Bellanca start surfacing, I decide to travel to Santa Maria to see his new toy. Wow. Every time he rolled it out of the hangar, a small crowd would gather to admire it. Friends of the family came out to thank him for buying it and express their appreciation that the airplane went to a good home. NC86916 must have had a special place in the collection of the late Dick Hulme and now it will have a special place in Texas. I cant wait to fly in it.

1 March 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: The 1987 restoration was very high quality. Here are two features I really like. The flaps have index marks to show what setting they are at, a rare feature for an airplane with manual flaps. Another nice touch visible here is the use of index marks on critical inspection covers.

5 March 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: First flight in 17 years. After an annual inspection, working through a discrepancy list, and otherwise making the airplane safe and legal to fly, I took the airplane flying. Many thanks to George, Sehon, Jose, the Foleys, Susan, Jamie, and all the other generous professionals and artisans who made this flight possible.

5 March 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Flight 2 and 3 also took place Thursday, March 5. The test flights were uneventful. By Friday, it was time for me to return to work, so the airplane will remain in Santa Maria until my schedule allows me to fly it home to Texas.

5 March 2015

First flight.
Brad Donnor comments (10 March 2015): The first flight after 17 years in extraordinarily careful storage took place on Thursday March 5, 2015. Two additional flights took place that same day.

12 March 2015

Brad Donner comments (12 March 2015): When a light airplane engine reaches maximum Time Between Overhaul (TBO) or otherwise requires overhaul or replacement, the engine typically gets swapped out with an overhauled or serviceable engine bearing a different serial number. NC86916 is one of those rare airplanes that has kept her original engine - a Franklin 6A4-150B3, serial number 11921, since new. See the photos for pics of the fly pages of the original and current airframe and engine log books.

12 March 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: The covers of the original aircraft and engine logs. Beautiful documents.

12 March 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: The inside cover pages of the airframe and engine logs showing engine serial # 11921 installed in NC86916, aircraft serial # 1278.

12 March 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: The old and the new. The original engine log, showing engine serial # 11921 installed in NC86916, with the current engine log showing the same engine installed in the same airplane all these years later. Not unheard of, but a relatively unique circumstance for a light airplane. The ownership history shows the airplane spending almost all its life I the Pacific Northwest. Owner J.E, Eldridge of Port Angeles, WA owned the airplane for many years - precise dates once I verify some information.

23 March 2015

Photographer: George Sparks
Notes: During one of the test flights, an observer remarked that it looked like one gear was not completely retracted so I wanted another gear swing. Here is the Bellanca with its gear retracted perfectly. Many thanks to George Sparks for taking these pictures and conducting a safe and thorough gear swing.

23 March 2015

Photographer: George Sparks
Notes: Feet tucked in!

11 April 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Sitting pretty. The Bellanca is nearly ready for its trip home to Texas, but we are still chasing some squawks and getting the engine and prop dialed in. This picture was taken the night before three test flights on April 12. The tests revealed some minor issues that I want to address before we set out on a 1200 mile trip to the airplanes new home in Texas.

18 May 2015

To unknown owner with c/r N86916.
Registration pending to a new owner in Hurst, TX.

26 May 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: The flight home. The Bellanca bids farewell to the Pacific coast on the first leg of her journey to her new home in Fort Worth, TX

27 May 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Texas! But only a little more than halfway home, the New Mexico / West Texas turbulence beat us up enough for one day, so we stopped in El Paso for the night. Thanks to the nice folks at Atlantic Aviation for letting my wood airplane bunk with the corporate iron.

28 May 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Enjoying the view over a layer of scattered clouds in west Texas.

1 June 2015

Michael Martindale comments: I flew it! When Brad was getting the Bellanca ready to fly in California, he did not take anyone flying, even though the airplane was signed off with a thorough annual inspection. He considered it to still be in a test and evaluation phase and did not think having passengers aboard was prudent. Now that he is flown it over 1300 miles across the US with a professional mechanic in the right seat, he has deemed it reliable enough for routine passengers like me and I finally got to occupy the right seat. I am a pilot, but not an antique airplane guy, so this was a new experience for me. Everything in the airplane fits a like a glove. The door closes like the door of a very expensive car - there are not any air leaks or rattles. The engine starts immediately and settles down into a rumbling idle with all the engine instruments in the green. If you listen VERY carefully, you can hear a little noise from the tachometer cable and it drives Brad crazy. The airplane rides like a Cadillac over the bumps in the taxiway and accelerates nicely down the runway on takeoff. In flight, I figured out right away why Brad is always smiling in the pics of him flying the airplane. It is immaculate - no slop, no rigging issues, no quirky flying characteristics. We flew to a nearby airport with a long and wide grass runway and Brad let me land it - my first tail dragger landing ever. It did exactly what he said it would do. It settled down in a 3 point attitude and touched down at about 50 mph and rolled straight ahead to a stop. The Bellanca is never going to win any awards for performance, but it is by far the nicest handling airplane I have ever flown. After flying it, I see with complete clarity why he was so passionate about buying it and getting it home.

1 June 2015

Photographer: Michael Martindale
Notes: He always dresses nice when he flies. Overseas, they called him the Gentleman Captain until someone got crossways with him.

7 June 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner

18 June 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Audrey visiting her friends in Neosho, MO. This is Grand Lake, not far from Neosho. I have flown her 37 hours since her return to service and she has proven herself to be reliable and delightful to fly.

18 June 2015

To Apogee Investments Llc, Hurst, TX with new c/r N86916.

5 July 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Another trip to see friends and family, more hours in the log book. We are approaching 60 hours since return to service after a 17 year sit with no major issues. A fine testament to the quality of the late 1980s restoration and the return to service by George Sparks and Jamie Treat.

4 September 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: Night landing current! At my age and hers, flying the Bellanca at night over a congested city probably is not my best idea, but she is equipped with a full set of lights and this time of year, the night sky over North Texas is pretty amazing.

4 October 2015

Photographer: Kyle Franklin
Notes: Taken at the Ranger Airfield (F23, Ranger, TX) fly-in and airshow. Brad Donner, Pilot and Owner. Kyle Franklin, Famous Airshow Pilot and Great Friend. Rambo, Golden Retriever and happy passenger.

4 October 2015

Photographer: Jared Calvert
Notes: On short final to Runway 19 at Ranger Airfield.

4 October 2015

Photographer: Kyle Franklin
Notes: Brad, Kyle, and Rambo enjoying the flight from KFWS - F23.

23 November 2015

Photographer: Brad Donner
Notes: A little lunch cruise to Ranger, TX (F23), which has a delightfully smooth grass runway AND a restaurant with awesome chicken fried steak! Here is Audrey enjoying the sun and grass while we get ready for lunch. Just a beautiful little airplane!

23 November 2015

Photographer: Jared Calvert
Notes: Jared captured her just right while we were warming up prior to departure on Runway 19 at Ranger Airfield.

1 January 2019

Certificate of airworthiness for N86916 (14-13, 1278) issued.

Circa 1 January 2019

To Hulme Richard A Cotrustee, Santa Maria, CA keeping c/r N86916.

3 October 2020

Photographer: G R Dennis Price
Notes: At a Fly-In at Ranger Airport, Texas

20 January 2021

To Apogee Investments Llc, Hurst, TX keeping c/r N86916.