# NTSB CEN22LA327: Champion 7KCAB, N7119, Gordon, NE, July 20, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 20, 2022, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Gordon, NE
- Coordinates: 42.804, -102.178
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8040&lon=-102.1780&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105538
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA327
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105538/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105538
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA327

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control while landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane with a gusty crosswind.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was performing a landing to runway 29 in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. Prior to the tailwheel contacting the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the left and the pilot lost control of the airplane. The nose of the airplane swerved left, and the pilot attempted to regain directional control using rudder and right brake. Unsuccessful, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that contributed to the accident. The pilot estimated the prevailing wind to be from the west at 12 kt gusting to 17 kts.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7119](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7119-2024-01-02), registration cancelled 2024-01-02, S/N 165, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 165
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 2269
- Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hasenfus Heidi J
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2022, 31 hours before
- Departed: KRWL, Rawlins, WY
- Destination: KGRN, Gordon, NE
- Airport: KGRN, Gordon Municipal Airport, runway 29, 2,284 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 493 total, 336 in this make and model, 429 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KGRN
- METAR: METAR KGRN 201815Z AUTO 28008KT 10SM CLR 31/07 A3005 RMK AO2 T03110074=

## 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 20220720012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220720012849A), Jul 20, 2022: Champion 7KCAB, Gordon, NE, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2022 at approximately 1310 MDT,[privacy data omitted], a Champion 7KCAB sustained substantial damage after the pilot lost control of the aircraft…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105538. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14296089&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20CEN22LA327_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14307645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20la327-Rel.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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