# NTSB ANC11CA072: Aeronca 7AC, N85194, McCarthy, AK, July 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 24, 2011, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: McCarthy, AK - Coordinates: 62.100204, -145.529388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1002&lon=-145.5294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Airworthiness - NTSB case key (mKey): 81393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81393/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81393 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA072 ## Probable cause The separation of the right main landing gear oleo strut assembly, resulting in the collapse of the main landing gear during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tundra-tire-equipped airplane reported that, while departing from a remote gravel bar, he heard a "clunk" just after takeoff. While en route to his destination airport, he noticed that the right main landing gear assembly had partially separated from the airplane. During the subsequent landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot's postaccident inspection revealed a separated oleo shock absorber strut. He noted that, other than the separated main landing gear oleo strut, there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tundra tire-equipped airplane reported that while departing from a remote gravel bar, he heard a "clunk" just after takeoff. While en route to his destination airport, he noticed that the right main landing gear assembly had partially separated from the airplane. During the subsequent landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot's postaccident inspection revealed a separated oleo shock absorber strut. He noted that other than the separated main landing gear oleo strut, there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85194](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85194), registered now, S/N 7AC-3927, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-3927 - Airframe hours: 2074 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C-90 SERIES 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gray Benjamin L - Registered owner: Gray Benjamin L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2011, 20 hours before - Departed: McCarthy, AK - Destination: 15Z, McCarthy, AK - Airport: 15Z, McCarthy, runway 36, 3,500 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 4,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110724017459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110724017459A), Jul 24, 2011: Aeronca 7AC, Mccarthy, AK, Substantial damage. Departed Mccarthy and landed at off airport gravel bar. Departed for a short flight and upon return to gravel bar was waved off by people on the ground who… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81393. 581 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 581 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.