# NTSB CEN23LA230: Champion 7KCAB, N5068X, Rutherfordton, NC, June 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 3, 2023, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Rutherfordton, NC - Coordinates: 35.427086, -81.935118 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4271&lon=-81.9351&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - 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) CHARLOTTE FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192323 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192323/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192323 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA230 ## Probable cause The disengagement of the tailwheel locking mechanism during the landing roll which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing with a 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: steering unit](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023251): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023251/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023251/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported he was performing a 3-point landing with a right 90° crosswind. During the landing, the tailwheel began to "shimmy." The pilot applied forward control stick pressure to reduce weight on the tailwheel and attempt to alleviate the shimmy but did not have enough airspeed to lift the tail and correct the shimmy. The pilot reported that as airspeed decayed, he applied full “aft stick” and full left rudder, but the airplane continued to drift to the right. In an attempt to prevent a runway excursion, the pilot applied the wheel brakes and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and damage to the propeller, spinner and cowling. The pilot reported that postaccident examination of the tailwheel locking mechanism revealed that it was worn and would not lock to the right. Loose tail wheel attachment hardware was also noted. The condition of the tailwheel should have been checked during the last annual inspection; however, it is possible that the locking mechanism could have worn further during the 7 months between the most recent inspection and the accident flight. At the time of the accident the airplane was landing on runway 01 with wind 060° at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5068X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5068X), registered now, S/N 151, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7KCAB - Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 151 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3514.64 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Prize Steer II, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FQD, Rutherford County/Marchman Fld, runway 1, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 16,600 total, 30 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KFQD - METAR: KFQD 031705Z AUTO 10011KT 070V130 10SM CLR 30/13 A2989 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230603011529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230603011529A), Jun 3, 2023: Champion 7KCAB, Rutherfordton, NC, Minor damage. After touch down on rwy 1 at Rutherfordton, NC (fqd), a/c [privacy data omitted]pilot stated that the tail wheel immediately began to shimmy and a/c veered… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192323. 10.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15709066&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20682023%20esigned%20redacted_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15732660&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA230%20Photos-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. --- 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.