# NTSB DEN02LA058: American Champion 8KCAB, N83DH, Giddings, TX, June 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2002, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Giddings, TX - Coordinates: 30.17, -96.979164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1700&lon=-96.9792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55052/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55052 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA058 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control during the landing rollout. A contributing factor was the subsequent inadvertent ground loop of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot said that he was landing on runway 17, and the airplane suddenly veered "hard" to the right and exited the runway. The left main axle support structure failed, and the left main wheel separated from the airplane. The left strut dug into the ground, and the airplane came to rest on its left wing. The outer 6 feet of the left wing was bent up approximately 35 degrees, and the left side of the elevator was bent. The pilot estimated the wind, at the time of the accident, to be 240 degrees at 3 to 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2002, at approximately 1100 central daylight time, a American Champion 8KCAB (Decathlon), N83DH, was substantially damaged during a ground loop on landing roll at Giddings-Lee County Airport, Giddings, Texas. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that had originated from Weiser Airpark, Houston, Texas, approximately 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he was landing on runway 17, and the airplane suddenly veered "hard" to the right and exited the runway. The left main axle support structure failed, and the left main wheel separated from the airplane. The left strut dug into the ground, and the airplane came to rest on its left wing. The outer 6 feet of the left wing was bent up approximately 35 degrees, and the left side of the elevator was bent. The pilot estimated the wind, at the time of the accident, to be 240 degrees at 3 to 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83DH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83DH), registered now, S/N 786-96, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 8KCAB - Registry model: [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (registry code 2121000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 786-96 - Airframe hours: 166 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360 H1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard E. Hoffman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2002, 2 hours before - Departed: EYQ, Houston, TX - Destination: 62H, Giddings, TX - Airport: 62H, Giddings-Lee County Arpt, runway 17, 3,998 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 14, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 563 total, 320 in this make and model, 471 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: CLL, 40 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 20020624013639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020624013639A), Jun 24, 2002: Bbavia 8KCAB, Giddings, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On June 24, 2002, at approximately 1100 central daylight time, a American champion 8KCAB (citabria), N83DH, was substantially damaged during a ground… ## Other investigations on N83DH (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN20LA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA389), Sep 13, 2020: Champion 8KCAB (N83DH), Groton, SD, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55052. 301 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 301 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.