ERA10CA168

NTSB accident investigation · Aeronca 7AC · Roanoke Rapids, NC · March 7, 2010

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
March 7, 2010, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Roanoke Rapids, NC
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N84694Aeronca 7AC
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 1, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20100307028879A
Case key
75465

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing/rollout.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensationAeronca 7AC: 5 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAeronca 7AC: 26 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotAeronca 7AC: 43 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 2, with an 8-knot crosswind. During the landing roll, the airplane’s left wing lifted and the right wing and propeller contacted the ground. The pilot applied engine power and attempted to regain control; however, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck a dirt bank. The right wing, right main landing gear and right wing strut were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane prior to the accident. A weather observation taken at the airport about the time of the accident reported winds from 300 degrees at 4 knots.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel equipped airplane on runway 2, with an 8 knot crosswind. During the landing roll, airplane’s the left wing lifted, and the right wing and propeller contacted the ground. The pilot applied engine power and attempted to regain control; however, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck a dirt bank. The right wing, right main landing gear, right wing strut, and propeller were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. A weather observation taken at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported winds from 300 degrees at 4 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N84694
Reported as
Aeronca 7AC (NO SERIES)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
3406
Airframe hours
4,037
Engine
Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 18, 2009 · 20 hours before
Departed
IXA · Roanoke Rapids, NC
Destination
IXA · Roanoke Rapids, NC
Airport
IXA · Halifax-Northampton Regional, runway 02, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
71
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Sport pilot
Last flight review
October 6, 2008
Seat
Front
Flight hours
400 total · 60 in this make and model · 280 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 10 °F
Altimeter
30.11 inHg
Observed at
IXA

Docket · 6

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.