# NTSB ERA11LA084: Aeronca 7CCM, N2053E, Rochester, NH, December 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 11, 2010, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Rochester, NH - Coordinates: 43.283889, -70.929168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2839&lon=-70.9292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77981/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77981 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA084 ## Probable cause The out-of-rig condition of the tailwheel lock, which resulted in a loss of directional control on landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7CCM, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the first three landings, with the student pilot at the controls, the airplane veered to the left upon touchdown. On the fourth landing, the airplane veered left again, and then the tailwheel momentarily lifted off the runway. When the tailwheel came back down, the airplane pulled hard to the left, but the flight instructor regained some directional control. The airplane departed the runway surface and struck the surface-mounted precision approach path indicator, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tailwheel unlocked easily when shaken manually. ## Factual narrative On December 11, 2010, about 0800 eastern standard time, an Aeronca 7CCM, N2053E, was substantially damaged following a loss of directional control during landing at Skyhaven Airport (DAW), Rochester, New Hampshire. The airplane was operated by Rochester Aviation. The certificated student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, instructional flight. The flight originated about 0730 was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight instructor reported the following. During the first three landings on runway 33, with the student pilot at the controls, and in calm winds, the airplane "...snapped a little left." Each time, a correction was made to maintain directional control. On the fourth landing attempt, the airplane snapped left again. The tailwheel lifted momentarily off the runway surface. When the tailwheel came back down, the airplane "shot hard left." Although the flight instructor was able to regain some directional control, the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane then struck the surface-mounted precision approach path indicator (PAPI) unit and came to a stop. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The horizontal stabilizer and empennage sustained structural damage from the collision with the PAPI unit. During a flight control continuity check, the control surfaces moved normally. When the tailwheel was examined, the tailwheel unlocked easily when shaken manually. The student pilot had logged about 2.1 hours of flight time at the time of the accident. Weather, recorded at DAW at 1252, included winds calm, visibility 10 statute miles, sky overcast at 4,400 feet, temperature -3 degrees C, dew point -9 degrees C, an altimeter setting of 30.21 inches Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2053E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2053E), registered now, S/N 7AC-5623, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7CCM - Registry model: [Aeronca 7CCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ccm) (registry code 2110110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-5623 - Airframe hours: 2802 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Rochester Aviation - Registered owner: Ferwerda Beech LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2010 - Departed: DAW, Rochester, NH - Destination: DAW, Rochester, NH - Airport: DAW, Skyhaven Airport, runway 33, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,050 total - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: DAW ## 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 20101211055649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101211055649A), Dec 11, 2010: Aeronca 7CCM, Rochester, NH, Substantial damage. On third touch down during an instructional flight the aircraft veered sharply to the left. The student appeared to correct, but the aircraft veered to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77981. 729 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 681 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347427&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-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.