# NTSB ATL95LA071: Aeronca 7AC, N83796, Dauphin Island, AL, March 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 1995, 14:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Dauphin Island, AL - Coordinates: 30.67991, -88.300079 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6799&lon=-88.3001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3539 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3539/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA071 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL, AND IMPROPER USE OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL, IN THAT HE MAINTAINED BACK PRESSURE AFTER THE STALL ENTRY, KEEPING THE AIRPLANE IN A STALLED CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - rudder - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - elevator - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING PARALLEL TO THE SHORE LINE AT A LOW ALTITUDE. APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, THE PILOT EXECUTED A SHALLOW, ASCENDING LEFT-HAND TURN, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A 'CROP DUSTER TURN'. HE STATED THAT TOO MUCH LEFT RUDDER WAS APPLIED, AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND BECAME INVERTED. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND PULLED BACK ON THE STICK, WHICH KEPT THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER IN A NEAR-VERTICAL ATTITUDE. DURING THE POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION, THE RIGHT AILERON PUSH-PULL ROD WAS DISCOVERED BROKEN BECAUSE OF DOUBLE-BENDING FATIGUE FAILURE. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO CONTROL PROBLEMS, NOR ANY OTHER MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE, PRIOR TO THE STALL. THE SAFETY BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE AILERON ROD BROKE DURING IMPACT. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 1995, about 1405 central standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N83796, collided with the water during an uncontrolled descent near Dauphin Island, Alabama. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the local, personal flight. The private pilot and his pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was the Roy E. Ray Airfield at Bayou La Batre, Alabama, about 1335, the same day. According to witnesses, the airplane was flying about ten feet above the water, and about 150 yards to sea, near Dauphin Island, Alabama. The airplane then climbed abruptly, the engine noise stopped; it nosed over and impacted the water, nearly straight down. According to the pilot, the airplane was approximately 500 feet above the ocean when he initiated a shallow, ascending left-hand turn, which he described as a "crop-duster turn". The pilot stated that too much left rudder was applied, and the airplane stalled and became inverted. The pilot reduced power and pulled back on the stick. The nose dropped to a near-vertical position and the airplane impacted the water. The pilot stated that he did not believe there to be a malfunction of the controls, nor any other problem with the aircraft. The airplane was left in approximately ten feet of salt-water for a period of 24 hours. Upon recovery of the airplane, an investigation revealed a separated right aileron push-pull rod assembly. The metallurgist report attributed the cause of the fracture to be a result of reverse bending fatigue. The examination revealed the level of applied stress was high, allowing the rod to separate with relatively few fatigue cycles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83796](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83796-2013-04-10), registration cancelled 2013-04-10, S/N 7AC-2473, 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-2473 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Grice, Hillery W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: 5R7, BAYOU LA BATRE, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 650 total, 250 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 30 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 19950324005369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950324005369A), Mar 24, 1995: Bbavia 7AC, Dauphin Island, AL, Substantial damage. Ten feet off water pulled up steeply stalled and dived into water. Right aileron push pull rod separated by stress. ## Other investigations on N83796 (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 MIA79FLA16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FLA16), Mar 6, 1979: Aeronca 7AC (N83796), Blakely, GA, substantial damage 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.