# NTSB CHI04LA037: American Champion 7GCBC, N297JB, Menominee, MI, November 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 26, 2003, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Menominee, MI - Coordinates: 45.126667, -87.63861 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1267&lon=-87.6386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58401 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58401/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA037 ## Probable cause The Phillips screwdriver impacting the left tire on takeoff roll, and the deflated tire which did not allow directional control to be maintained during the subsequent landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - other (cause) - landing gear,tire - deflated (cause) - landing gear,tire - foreign object - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of directional control while landing. The pilot reported that during his takeoff roll he felt a "slight bump" on the left side of the airplane which felt like he ran over something. He reported he disregarded the "bump" and continued the takeoff. Following a local flight he returned to the airport for a landing. He reported that upon landing "an object was hit by the left main tire, a bang was heard from what I assumed was an object hitting the left side of the fuselage." He reported that at the same time, the airplane pulled to the left. He applied "hard" right rudder and power with the intention of taking off. However, he reported, the airplane veered to the right with the right wing contacting the ground. The airplane skidded sideways for about 150 feet coming to rest off the departure end of the runway. During a post accident inspection punctures were found on the inside sidewall of the left tire. A small Phillips screwdriver was found near the point of takeoff. ## Factual narrative On November 26, 2003, at 1110 eastern standard time, an American Champion 7GCBC, N297JB, collided with the terrain following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 32 (5,100 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt) at the Menominee-Marinette Twin County Airport (MNM), Menominee, Michigan. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated from MNM, at 1050. The pilot reported that during his takeoff roll he felt a "slight bump" on the left side of the airplane which felt like he ran over something. He likened the "bump" to running over a stone with a car. He reported he disregarded the "bump" and continued the takeoff. Following a local flight he returned to the airport for a landing. He reported that upon landing, "an object was hit by the left main tire, a bang was heard from what I assumed was an object hitting the left side of the fuselage." He reported that at the same time, the airplane pulled to the left. He applied "hard" right rudder and power with the intention of taking off. However, he reported, the airplane veered to the right with the right wing contacting the ground. The airplane skidded sideways for about 150 feet coming to rest off the departure end of runway 32. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a post-accident investigation. The inspector found punctures on the inside sidewall of the left tire. The inspector stated a small Phillips screwdriver was found on the runway 32 near the point of takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N297JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N297JB), registered now, S/N 1279-99 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion 7GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1279-99 - Airframe hours: 138.1 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William G. Boerner - Registered owner: Northern Aircraft Sales - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 2003, 14.4 hours before - Departed: MNM, Menominee, MI - Destination: MNM - Airport: MNM, Menominee-Marinette Twin Count, runway 32, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 4, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 4,100 total, 600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: MNM ## 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 20031126030639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031126030639A), Nov 26, 2003: Bbavia 7GCBC, Menominee, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) On takeoff roll, pilot states there was a slight bump that felt like he ran over something on the left side of aircraft. Pilot continued takeoff and… 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.