How many American Champion 17-30As are registered in the US?

389, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the American Champion 17-30A built?

From about 1970 to 1996. Half of those registered today were built by 1974.

What engine does the American Champion 17-30A have?

Most have the Continental IO-520 (96% of those registered).

How many accidents has the American Champion 17-30A had?

32 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 6 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the American Champion 17-30A have?

1 current ADs name the 17-30A airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 28 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

American Champion 17-30A

389 registered in the US, built from about 1970 to 1996, 4 seats, most with the Continental IO-520. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 389
Built: 1970 to 1996
Half built by: 1974
Seats: 4
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental IO-520

Engines installed

Continental IO-520372 aircraft (96%) · 28 ADs, 4 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

1 current AD name the 17-30A airframe, 1 with a repeat action. Its engines carry 28 more. 10 equipment ADs name the model.

The ones that come back

ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.

96-18-07Bellanca, Incorporated Models 17-30, 17-30A, 17-31, 17-31A, 17-31TC, and 17-31ATC AirplanesAirplaneRepeat actionSep 4, 1996

Every AD for the American Champion 17-30A

Accident record

32 accidents since 2008, 6 fatal (10 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 0 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of engine power (total)10
Loss of control on ground5
Fuel starvation5
Loss of control in flight2
Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT)2
Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)1

Phase of flight

Enroute8
Landing8
Approach7
Initial climb5
Emergency descent2

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-01-15	Burnet, TX	Standing: Loss of control on ground	Minor	CEN26LA091
2025-09-16	Moriarty, NM	Approach: Loss of engine power (total)	Fatal	WPR25FA279
2024-04-05	Galveston, TX	Approach: Loss of engine power (total)	None	CEN24LA152
2024-02-24	Cape coral, FL	Enroute: Fuel starvation	None	ERA24LA122
2024-01-04	Bequia, OF	Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)	Fatal	GAA24WA066
2023-12-30	Washington, MO	Initial climb: Fuel starvation	Serious	CEN24LA077

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD (1 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
10 equipment ADs name the 17-30A (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

Questions

How many American Champion 17-30As are registered in the US?: 389, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the American Champion 17-30A built?: From about 1970 to 1996. Half of those registered today were built by 1974.
What engine does the American Champion 17-30A have?: Most have the Continental IO-520 (96% of those registered).
How many accidents has the American Champion 17-30A had?: 32 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 6 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of engine power (total). These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the American Champion 17-30A have?: 1 current ADs name the 17-30A airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 28 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.