# NTSB CHI08CA060: American Champion 7AC, N85393, Whitmore Lake, MI, January 4, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 4, 2008, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Whitmore Lake, MI
- Coordinates: 42.376388, -83.792778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3764&lon=-83.7928&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67387/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA060

## Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during cruise and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the precautionary landing.  A factor was the snow-covered ground.

## Findings

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

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot encountered a partial loss of engine power during flight.  The use of carburetor heat did not regain the lost power.  The pilot performed a precautionary landing to a grass landing strip he had landed at before.  The airplane nosed over in the snow upon landing.  No pre-impact anomalies were detected.  The local temperature and dew point was -2 degrees C and -9 degrees C respectively.  The owner's recommendation was to "replace the metal tube with scat tube on carb heat side."

## Factual narrative

The pilot encountered a partial loss of engine power during flight.  The use of carburetor heat did not regain the lost power.  The pilot performed a precautionary landing to a grass landing strip he had landed at before.  The airplane nosed over in the snow upon landing.  No pre-impact anomalies were detected.  The local temperature and dew point was -2 degrees C and -9 degrees C respectively.  The owner's recommendation was to "replace the metal tube with scat tube on carb heat side."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85393](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85393), registered now, S/N 7AC-4133 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-4133
- Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 1D2, PLYMOUTH, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 5,050 total, 125 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: ARB

## 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 20080104833419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080104833419A), Jan 4, 2008: Bbavia 7AC, Whitmore Lake, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) At approx. 15:30 local time, aircraft registration number N85393, a 1946 aeronica champ, piloted by [privacy data omitted], departed canton airport,…

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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