# NTSB CHI03LA235: Aeronca 11AC, N86233, Brighton, MI, July 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2003, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Brighton, MI - Coordinates: 42.569721, -83.77861 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5697&lon=-83.7786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57596/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA235 ## Probable cause The pilot's directional control not possible resulting from the rudder control assembly separation during the landing. A factor was the construction vehicle that the airplane impacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flt control syst,rudder control - separation (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis The tailwheel airplane sustained substantial damage when it exited the right side of the runway and impacted a construction vehicle during a landing. The pilot stated, "Even with full left rudder there was no change in the airplanes path in the turn to the right." The wind was calm. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left hand rudder cable forward attach point had separated from the torque tube, rendering the left hand rudder cable inoperative. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2003, about 1150 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N86233, owned and operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it exited runway 22 (3,120 feet by 24 feet, asphalt) at Brighton Airport (45G), near Brighton, Michigan, and impacted a construction vehicle. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and his flight instructor rated passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight departed 45G at 1100. The pilot stated: Doing pattern work, take offs and landings on runway 22, we were on our fourth landing attempt when the incident occurred. Each previous attempt ended with a go around after a couple of bounces on the runway. On this attempt the power was reduced to idle after the first touch and the second touch the airplane was in a 3 point attitude rolling on the runway and started to turn to the right and then was overcorrected to the left, then was corrected to the right. At this time the airplane continued to turn right between the runway lights and to about 80 degrees off the runway heading to the right and continued until kitting the side of a large earth mover. The earth mover was parked off the runway next to some bushes. We hit the side of the earth mover at about 10 mph. Even with full left rudder there was no change in the airplanes path in the turn to the right. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane. He stated that the "left hand rudder cable forward attach point had separated from the torque tube, rendering the left hand rudder cable inoperative." At 1200, the recorded Livingston County Airport, near Howell, Michigan, weather was: Wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered 4,300 feet; temperature 19 degrees C; dew point 14 degrees C; altimeter 30.04 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86233](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86233-2006-05-09), registration cancelled 2006-05-09, S/N 11AC-37, built 1946 (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-37 - Airframe hours: 1670 - Engines: Continental A65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eric G Dawson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2002, 1.8 hours before - Departed: 45G, Brighton, MI - Airport: 45G, Brighton, runway 22, 3,150 × 24 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 29, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 352 total, 127 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 14, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 4,069 total, 16 in this make and model, 3,732 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: OZW, 10 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 20030729020029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030729020029A), Jul 29, 2003: Bbavia 11AC, Brighton, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing on runway 22 at Brighton field (45G), aircraft began right ground loop. Pilot overcorrected, and aircraft began left loop. Pilot again… 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.