# NTSB CEN09LA567: Aeronca 11AC, N3383E, Marshall, MI, September 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 2009, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Marshall, MI - Coordinates: 42.27111, -84.963333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2711&lon=-84.9633&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-GR-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA567 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74673/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74673 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA567 ## Probable cause The failure of the main landing gear attach point. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/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 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after liftoff he heard a "thump" and someone on the ground radioed him saying that his right landing gear looked "crooked." The pilot stated that because his aircraft battery was low he could not transmit over the radio. He decided to make an off-airport landing in a field instead of trying to land at the busy airport that he had just departed. The right main landing gear collapsed during the landing and the airplane nosed over. Inspection of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear oleo strut attachment fitting failed, allowing the landing gear to collapse. The last annual inspection on the airplane was dated August 7, 2000. The pilot reported that an annual inspection may have detected the failure. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2009, at 1315 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N3383E, nosed over while landing in a grass field in Marshall, Michigan, following a failure of the right main landing gear during the previous takeoff. The pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage to the right wing and rudder. The personal flight was being conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from the Brooks Airport (RMY), Marshall, Michigan, at 1300. The pilot reported that after liftoff he heard a "thump" and someone on the ground radioed him saying that his right landing gear looked "crooked." The pilot stated that because his aircraft battery was low he could not transmit over the radio. He decided to make an off airport landing in a field instead of trying to land at the busy airport which he just departed. The right main landing gear collapsed during the landing and the airplane nosed over. Inspection of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear oleo strut attachment fitting failed allowing the landing gear to collapse. The last annual inspection on the airplane was dated August 7, 2000. The pilot reported that an annual inspection may have detected the failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3383E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3383E), registered now, S/N 11AC-1709, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC-1709 - Airframe hours: 1749 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Elwood Eddie - Registered owner: Elwood Eddie - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2000, 31.7 hours before - Departed: Marshall, MI - Destination: Marshall, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 564 total, 219 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: AZO, 29 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 20090905049629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090905049629A), Sep 5, 2009: Aeronca 11AC, Marshall, MI, Minor damage. Pilot departed Marshall brooks airfield. During the takeoff he noticed that the right main gear had come out of the oleo strut. He landed in a grass strip and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74673. 872 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 872 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.