# NTSB ANC12TA008: Bellanca 8GCBC, N88417, Delta Junction, AK, November 11, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: November 11, 2011, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Delta Junction, AK - Coordinates: 63.856109, -145.092773 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.8561&lon=-145.0928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 82325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12TA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82325/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82325 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12TA008 ## Probable cause Ice accretion in the main landing gear wheel brakes, which prevented the main landing gear wheels from rotating on landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that she had taxied for an extended period in loose snow at the departure airport. The subsequent flight and accident landing were in sub-freezing temperatures. On touchdown at the destination airstrip, the tires immediately dug into the shallow snow layer, and the airplane nosed down and skidded for several yards before nosing over. The pilot stated that she thought the brakes had frozen and locked the tires prior to landing, probably precipitated by taxiing in the loose snow at the departure airport. Postaccident examination found one brake still locked by ice and one free. No mechanical deficiencies other than the frozen brake were found. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 2011, about 1130 Alaska standard time, a Bellanca 8GCBC airplane, N88417, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing, about 22 miles south of Delta Junction, Alaska. The airplane was operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) public aircraft flight. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was active. The flight departed Chena Marina Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1000. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot said it was about 22 degrees F., the runway had not been packed down, and there was a 1-2” dusting of snow on the runway. She began aerial game observations about 1040, and about 1120 decided to land to organize data on the ground. She touched down at stall speed in a 3-point configuration, and upon full contact with the ground, the tires immediately dug into the snow. The tail of the airplane came up very suddenly, and the nose hit the ground. The airplane skidded for several yards before it nosed over. Based on the way the airplane reacted on touchdown, in conjunction with photos taken from the air and ground of the accident site, the pilot said she believes that the brakes iced up and locked prior to touch-down, probably the result of taxiing and takeoff in the light, loose snow at Chena Marina. She noted the accident landing wheel tracks were deep and dug into the underlying grass, whereas the tracks left by the two airplanes that landed to provide assistance, did not penetrate the shallow layer of snow. She said she was very familiar with the airplane and the landing airstrip, and that she had not had any mechanical issues with the airplane, or difficulty landing on the airstrip previously. A postaccident inspection of the brake system by the State's aircraft mechanic did not reveal any brake anomalies. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, an aircraft mechanic who responded to the accident site, said he found the left brake free, and the right brake frozen. He said it is not unusual for brakes to freeze after extended taxiing in deep snow. During taxi the brakes heat, and melt the snow which refreezes after the airplane becomes airborne. He examined the brakes after the airplane was recovered, and did not find any mechanical anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88417](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88417), registered now, S/N 123-75 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 123-75 - Airframe hours: 12340 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: Alaska Department Of Fish And Game - Registered owner: Alaska Department Of Fish And Game - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 23, 2011 - Departed: 2Z5, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: Delta Junction, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 822 total, 332 in this make and model, 775 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: PABI, 18 nm away ## 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 20111111027279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111111027279A), Nov 11, 2011: Bellanca 8GCBC, Delta Junction, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot taxied aircraft in light powder snow at chena marina prior to departure. Approximately 2 inches of snow was on the ground at the time of departure. Pilot… ## Other investigations on N88417 (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 ANC96TA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96TA011), Oct 28, 1995: Bellanca 8GCBC (N88417), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. The snow-covered landing surface and the pilot's decision not to perform a go-around were factors. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82325. 198 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Mark Hasner (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361824&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mark%20Hasner-Master.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.