# NTSB CHI02LA024: Aeronca 7AC, N1746E, Erhard, MN, October 1, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 2001, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Erhard, MN - Coordinates: 46.479888, -96.090026 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4799&lon=-96.0900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53776/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA024 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the turn. Factors relating to this accident were the low airspeed, the inadvertent stall, and the low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - altitude - low (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said he was in a left turning descent from approximately 1,000 feet agl to approximately 700 feet agl when the airplane's left wing dropped. The pilot said, "I applied right stick, and simultaneously the airplane entered a spin. I pushed the stick immediately forward and applied right rudder - waiting for the aircraft to recover. The aircraft recovered approximately 35 feet from the ground, below a tree line that was quickly approaching. There was an area of open (unobstructed) ground to my left and I elected to land there. During the landing one of the landing gear collapsed and I slid to a stop short of the trees." The pilot said a fire occurred in the engine nacelle area. "My extinguisher was not adequate to extinguish the fire and eventually the entire fabric A/C (aircraft) was consumed." The pilot provided the following safety recommendation: "Maintain adequate airspeed at all times when airborne." ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2001, at 1800 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N1746E, piloted by a private pilot was destroyed when it impacted terrain 6 miles east of Erhard, Minnesota. A post crash fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board reported no injuries. The local flight originated near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, at 1730. In his written statement, the pilot said he was in a left turning descent from approximately 1,000 feet agl to approximately 700 feet agl when the airplane's left wing dropped. The pilot said, "I applied right stick, and simultaneously the airplane entered a spin. I pushed the stick immediately forward and applied right rudder - waiting for the aircraft to recover. The aircraft recovered approximately 35 feet from the ground, below a tree line that was quickly approaching. There was an area of open (unobstructed) ground to my left and I elected to land there. During the landing one of the landing gear collapsed and I slid to a stop short of the trees." The pilot said a fire occurred in the engine nacelle area. "My extinguisher was not adequate to extinguish the fire and eventually the entire fabric A/C (aircraft) was consumed." Also in his written statement, the pilot provided the following safety recommendation: "Maintain adequate airspeed at all times when airborne." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1746E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1746E-2002-02-05), registration cancelled 2002-02-05, S/N 7AC-5313, 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 C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-5313 - Airframe hours: 2765 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Patrick L. Martin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 27, 2001, 12 hours before - Departed: 47Y, Pelican Rapids, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 9, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 354 total, 296 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PKD, 49 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 20011001030879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011001030879A), Oct 1, 2001: Bbavia 7AC, Erhard, MN, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was making a turning descent when left wing "dropped." Pilot attempted to correct by adding right stick, aircraft entered spin. Aircraft… 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.