# Accident 20080104833419A: Bbavia 7AC, Whitmore Lake, MI, January 4, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 4, 2008, 15:58 local time
- Place: Whitmore Lake, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.3764° N, 83.7928° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3764&lon=-83.7928&mi=10
- Aircraft: N85393, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85393) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 7AC (registry code 2110102, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7AC
- Reported engine: CONT A658
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,050 total, 125 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI08CA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080104833419A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AT APPROX. 15:30 LOCAL TIME, AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION NUMBER N85393, A 1946 AERONICA CHAMP, PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, DEPARTED CANTON AIRPORT, IDENTIFIER ID2, ON A WESTERLY HEADING. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD CARBURETOR HEAT ON, AND WAS FLYING AT APPROX. 1000 FEET AGL. AT APPROX. 15 MILES WEST OF CANTON, THE ENGINE ON HIS AIRCRAFT SPUTTERED, AND HE NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER FROM ABOUT 2000 RPM, TO ABOUT 1750 RPM. THE PILOT STATED HE TURNED OFF CARBURETOR HEAT, NOTICED AN INCREASE IN POWER, AND THEN TURNED CARB HEAT BACK ON. AT THIS POINT, HIS ENGINE SPUTTERED AGAIN, AND THE PILOT NOTICED A GRASS RUNWAY, OFF HIS RIGHT HAND WING. THE PILOT STATED HE MADE A DECISION TO LAND ON THIS STRIP, AND EXECUTED A 270 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT, AND ROLLED OUT ON THE RUNWAY HEADING, WHICH WAS NORTH. HE OBSERVED THAT HE COULD SEE GRASS THRU THE SNOW COVER, AND SLOWED HIS AIRCRAFT TO 45 MPH FOR APPROACH. AS HIS MAIN GEARS TOUCHED DOWN, THE SNOW WAS ACTUALLY DEEPER THAN HE THOUGHT IT WAS. IMMEDIATELY, HIS AIRCRAFT PITCHED OVER, AND HIS PROP STARTED STRIKING THE GROUND. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH OVER FARTHER, THE LEFT WING STRIKING THE GROUND FIRST. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST ON ITS ROOF. THE PILOT EXITED AIRCRAFT FIRST, THEN ASSISTED THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT. BOTH SOULS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS OR HARNESSES, AND EXPERIENCED NO, OR MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT WAS KEPT HANGARED, AND HE PREHEATED THE AIRCRAFT WITH A CERAMIC HEATER BEFORE EXITING HIS HANGAR. HE ALSO STATED HE PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT, AND CHECKED THE FUEL FOR MOISTURE CONTAINATION, AND FOUND NONE. HIS LAST FLIGHT HAD BEEN ON DEC 22, 2007, AND HE HAD TOPPED HIS FUEL OFF UPON LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI08CA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA060), Jan 4, 2008: American Champion 7AC (N85393), Whitmore Lake, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during cruise and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the precautionary landing. A factor was the snow-covered ground.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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