# Accident 20160430003399A: American Champion Aircraft 7AC, Keene, NH, April 30, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 30, 2016, 16:30 local time
- Place: Keene, NH
- Airport: Dillant-Hopkins
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.8983° N, 72.2708° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8983&lon=-72.2708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N85510, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 7AC (registry code 2120005, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A-65-8 (registry code 17329, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-65-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7AC
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 115 total, 85 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA174) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160430003399A

## Narrative

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

PILOT EXECUTED 3-POINT LANDING.  ON ROLL-OUT, TAIL WHEEL BEGAN TO SHIMMY AND AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT.  IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID PAPI LIGHTING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, FULL POWER WAS APPLIED IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT FLIGHT OVER THE LIGHTING BOXES.  AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TWO LEFT LIGHT BOXES (SERIES OF 4 BOXES INSTALLED) CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO PIVOT TO THE RIGHT AND COMING TO REST IN A SIDEWAYS SKID ON ALL THREE LANDING GEAR.  LANDING RUNWAY 02, WIND WAS REPORTED AT 260@8 KTS.  BLACK RUBBER SCALLOPING ON RUNWAY INDICATES SHIMMY AND AIRCRAFT MOVEMENT TO THE LEFT AND OFF THE RUNWAY.  INVESTIGATION OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY THROUGH VISUAL INSPECTION AND OPERATION ON THE GROUND REVEALS THE TAILWHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. PILOT STATED HE KEPT FULL AFT STICK AND RIGHT RUDDER IN HIS ATTEMPT TO GAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA16LA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA174), Apr 30, 2016: American Champion 7AC (N85510), Keene, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disengagement of the tailwheel locking mechanism during the landing roll due to wear, and a subsequent loss of directional control. Contributing was the pilot's inadequate remedial action, which…

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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