# Incident 20160407003059I: Champion 7ECA, Mt. Hope, AL, April 7, 2016

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 2016, 11:10 local time
- Place: Mt. Hope, AL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N6363N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6363N-2018-05-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Champion 7ECA (registry code 21101NN, https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,095 total, 10 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160407003059I

## Narrative

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

AFTER COMPLETION OF AN UNEVENTFUL FIRST 45 MINUTE LEG OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT STOPPED FOR A BREAK AND FUEL AT M22 BILL PUGH FIELD AIRPORT RUSSELLVILLE, AL. THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL DEPARTURE AND CLIMB TO A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 3500FT MSL TO THE NORTH. BEGINNING AT THIS POINT THE OIL TEMPERATURE ROSE TO 230° F OVER THE COURSE OF 2 MINUTES WHILE THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATION REMAINED IN THE GREEN BAND. DURING THIS SAME TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AS IF ABOUT TO SLING A ROD. WHILE CONTINUING TO RUN, NOTICEABLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION WAS OBSERVED.

THE PILOT IDENTIFIED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LENGTHY GREEN FIELD TO HIS SOUTH AND 12.75 MILES EAST OF M22, IN WHICH TO CONDUCT A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. UPON A TOUCHDOWN ON A 180° HEADING FOLLOWED BY MANUAL ENGINE SHUTDOWN FOR SAFETY, THE WIRE FENCE AND DITCH CAME INTO VIEW WHEN CRESTING A SLIGHT RISE IN TERRAIN. THE FENCE SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT?S FORWARD MOTION AND THE DITCH SHEARED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FROM THE AIRCRAFT. FOLLOWING A FULL STOP THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNINJURED.

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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