# NTSB DEN03LA011: Bellanca 7KCAB, N41807, Fort Collins, CO, October 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 2002, 18:10 local (Oct 22, 2002, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 39.930233, -104.949378 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9302&lon=-104.9494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55953/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - runway - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was doing touch-and-go landings on runway 15. On this approach, he made a 3-point landing and bounced. He settled the airplane back down for a second 3-point landing, but there was a "lack of directional ground control and some drift to the right of centerline." He added full power for a go-around, but the controls felt "mushy," and there was a "lack of aileron control." The airplane drifted to the right, struck the runway with its right wingtip, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both the left and right wing spars, empennage, forward fuselage, both main landing gear attachment points, rudder and left horizontal stabilizer. The winds were, 070 degrees at 07 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 2002, at approximately 1810 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N41807, registered to Swain Aviation LLC, and operated by The Flying School, both of Fort Collins, Colorado, was destroyed when it nosed over following an attempted go-around during a touch-and-go landing at Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport (FNL), Fort Collins, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this local flight being conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The flight originated at approximately 1730. According to the pilot, he was doing touch-and-go landings on runway 15. On this approach, he made a 3-point landing and bounced. He settled the airplane back down for a second 3-point landing, but there was a "lack of directional ground control and some drift to the right of centerline." He added full power for a go-around, but the controls felt "mushy," and there was a "lack of aileron control." The airplane drifted to the right, struck the runway with its right wingtip, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both the left and right wing spars, empennage, forward fuselage, both main landing gear attachment points, rudder and left horizontal stabilizer. The reported weather conditions at 1815 was wind, 070 degrees at 07 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 11 degrees C.; dew point, 03 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 30.00. According to these conditions, a landing on runway 15, would result in an 80 degree left-hand crosswind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41807](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41807), registered now, S/N 403-73, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 403-73 - Airframe hours: 2135 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Swain Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2002, 5 hours before - Departed: FNL, Fort Collins, CO - Destination: FNL, Fort Collins, CO - Airport: FNL, Ft Collins/Loveland Municipal, runway 15, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 10, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 442 total, 5 in this make and model, 387 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FNL ## 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 20021021030399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021021030399A), Oct 21, 2002: Bbavia 7KCAB, Fort Collins, CO, Destroyed. (-23) The aircraft touched down in a 3 point attitude and bounced. The pilot settled the aircraft back down but noticed he was off center line so he added… ## Other investigations on N41807 (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 DEN77FTE24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FTE24), Feb 26, 1977: Bellanca 7KCAB (N41807), Mack, CO, destroyed 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.