# Accident 20180318004369A: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Ontario, OR, March 18, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 18, 2018, 14:30 local time
- Place: Ontario, OR
- Airport: Ontario Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0225° N, 117.0147° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0225&lon=-117.0147&mi=10
- Aircraft: N234RA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N234RA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 7GCBC (registry code 21101PL, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,532 total, 18 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180318004369A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 18, 2018, AT APPROXIMATELY 1430 HRS MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AMERICAN CHAMPION MODEL 7GCBC AIRCRAFT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TOUCHDOWN  AND DEPARTED RUNWAY 33 AT ONTARIO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, OREGON (ONO). THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AS A RESULT OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT GROUNDLOOP.  THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 33 APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF THE RUNWAY LENGTH FROM THE APPROACH END, TRAVERSED THE UNPAVED MEDIAN BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY, STRUCK THE EDGE OF THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY WITH THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE, TRAVELED IN A LEFT ARC ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY AND DEPARTED THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY ON THE LEFT SIDE, COMING TO REST IN THE MEDIAN BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND THE PAVED SURFACE OF THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY, FACING THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY WITH THE BROKEN AXLE ATTACHED, WHICH SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, WERE RECOVERED OFF OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. TIRE SCUFF MARKS FROM THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE AND METALLIC SCRAPE MARKS FROM THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE MOUNT TAB  (WITNESS MARKS) WERE FOUND ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. WITNESS SCRAPE MARKS ON THE LOWER AXLE TAB AND MOUNT BOLT (STILL ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR LEG) WERE APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES FROM A FORE/AFT DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A 14 CFR PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT AND THE CFI IN THE REAR SEAT WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND. THE PIC AND OTHER AIRPORT PERSONNEL STATED THE WINDS WERE APPROXIMATELY 7-10 KNOTS AND GUSTING. THE PIC FURTHER STATED THE WINDS WERE DIRECTLY CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT AT TOUCHDOWN.

## 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 GAA18CA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA176), Mar 18, 2018: American Champion 7GCBC (N234RA), Ontario, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during landing, in cross wind conditions.

## Other reports on N234RA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20230907016399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230907016399A), Sep 7, 2023: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC (N234RA), Woodland, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot has a private certificate, asel and instrument airplane. Was working on his tail dragger endorsement in an airplane that he had purchased. Pilot stated…

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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