# NTSB DEN86LA104: Champion 7GCAA, N9614S, Falcon, CO, March 25, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 25, 1986, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Falcon, CO
- Location: 38.9330° N, 104.6086° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Falcon, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9330&lon=-104.6086&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16939
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16939/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA104

## 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
  - landing gear,tailwheel - movement restricted (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN THE ACFT SLOWED AFTER LANDING, IT TURNED 'SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT.' THE PLT STATED HE EXPERIENCED 'EXTREME TAILWHEEL SHUDDER' PRIOR TO THIS DURING THE LANDING ROLL. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS ASCERTAINED THAT THE TAILWHEEL SPRING HAD BECOME DETACHED AND ALLOWED THE TAILWHEEL TO PIVOT TO ONE SIDE ONCE THE ACFT SLOWED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9614S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9614S), registered now, S/N 46, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcaa) (registry code 21101N8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46
- Airframe hours: 860
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Floyd P. Austin/Gene E. Patton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1986, 4 hours before
- Airport: 00V, Meadow Lake, runway 15, 4,150 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,421 total, 2,421 in this make and model, 2,339 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19860325011169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860325011169A), Mar 25, 1986: Bbavia 7GCAA, Falcon, CO, Substantial damage. Ground looped on the landing roll when the tail wheel spring became detached.

## Other investigations on N9614S (2)

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 FTW93LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA038), Nov 16, 1992: Champion 7GCAA (N9614S), Joshua, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE DURING THE APPROACH AND HIS INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
- [NTSB DEN86LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA001), Oct 1, 1985: Champion 7GCAA (N9614S), Cortez, CO, substantial damage

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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