# NTSB CEN13CA528: Bellanca 7ECA, N86586, Delavan, WI, September 6, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2013, 05:15 local (10:15 UTC)
- Place: Delavan, WI
- Coordinates: 42.633888, -88.601112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6339&lon=-88.6011&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 4, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87987
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA528
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87987/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87987
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA528

## Probable cause

The collision with a hawk during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and subsequent noseover.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the takeoff roll, a hawk struck the airplane's windscreen and then struck the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The airplane veered to the right, exited the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. A postaccident examination revealed that the hawk had lodged between the vertical stabilizer and rudder which interfered with the flight controls and deflected the rudder to the right. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

During the takeoff roll, a hawk struck the airplane's windscreen and then struck the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The airplane veered to the right, exited the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. A postaccident examination revealed that the hawk had lodged between the vertical stabilizer and rudder which interfered with the flight controls and deflected the rudder to the right. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86586](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86586-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 1005-74, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1005-74
- Airframe hours: 1092
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 CI 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stick & Rudder LLC
- Registered owner: Stick & Rudder LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2013, 10 hours before
- Departed: C59, DELAVAN, WI
- Destination: ENW, KENOSHA, WI
- Airport: C59, Lake Lawn Airport, runway 36, 4,423 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 4,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 33 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: BUU, 14 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 20130906016539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130906016539A), Sep 6, 2013: Bellanca 7ECA, Delavan, WI, Substantial damage. The pilot in command and sole occupant of N86856, a blanca 7 eca, had planned a VFR flight from Lake Lawn (C59) to kenosha (enw). The weather was VFR at the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87987. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Correspondence - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.

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