# Accident 20201007018069A: American Champion Aircraft 7ECA, Longview, TX, October 7, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 7, 2020, 15:50 local time
- Place: Longview, TX
- Airport: East Texas Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.3840° N, 94.7115° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3840&lon=-94.7115&mi=10
- Aircraft: N790L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N790L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 7ECA (registry code 2120003, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7eca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-235-K2C (registry code 42036, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-235-k2c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7ECA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-235-K2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201007018069A

## Narrative

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

ON SCENE, THE AIRCRAFT HAD ALREADY BEEN MOVED INTO A HANGAR. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AND AS HE WAS ROLLING OUT, HE TRIED TO APPLY RIGHT BRAKE AND COULD NOT. HE TRIED TO APPLY THE RIGHT RUDDER AND COULD NOT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY STRIKING A RUNWAY SIGN AND CONTINUED IN A LEFT TURN BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT THE RUDDER AND BRAKES HAD WORKED CORRECTLY UP UNTIL THE INCIDENT.

PRIOR TO FAA ARRIVAL, GROUND CREW DISCOVERED THAT THE CLEVIS PIN, ATTACHING THE FRONT RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL TO THE BRAKE ACTUATOR, HAD COME OUT. THE GROUND CREW INSTALLED A NEW PIN AND TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE HANGAR.

INSPECTING THE AIRCRAFT, NUMEROUS GOUGES AND TEARS WERE NOTED IN THE SKIN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WERE WRINKLES IN THE SKIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT ABOVE AND AFT OF THE LANDING GEAR STRUT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE CLEVIS PIN, IT WAS REQUESTED THE FRONT BELLY SKIN BE REMOVED. THE CLEVIS PIN WAS FOUND IN THE BELLY SKIN. THE CLEVIS PIN HAD WEAR MARKS UP TO AND SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE BEGINNING OF THE COTTER PIN HOLE. WE COULD NOT LOCATE THE COTTER PIN OR PIECES OF IT IN THE AIRCRAFT. WITH THE BELLY PANEL REMOVED IT WAS NOTED THAT A MAIN TUBE IN THE FRAME WAS BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE IN FRONT OF THE LANDING GEAR STRUT.

REVIEWING THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LAST MAINTENANCE ON THE PEDALS WAS CONDUCTED DURING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION CONDUCTED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019. DURING THIS MAINTENANCE, THE RUDDER PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019, THE AIRCRAFT FLEW 482 HOURS WITH NO ISSUES. THERE WERE FOUR 100 HOUR INSPECTIONS AND AN ANNUAL INSPECTION CONDUCTED. THE LAST ANNUAL WAS SIGNED OFF ON OCTOBER 7, 2020.

## 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 CEN21LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA033), Oct 7, 2020: American Champion 7ECA (N790L), Longview, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of a clevis pin in the rudder system which led to a loss of directional control during landing.

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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