# NTSB ERA12CA220: American Champion 8KCAB, N7DF, Beverly, MA, March 4, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 4, 2012, 08:29 local (13:29 UTC) - Place: Beverly, MA - Coordinates: 42.583057, -70.907775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5831&lon=-70.9078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83087/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83087 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA220 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of airplane control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he did not align the tailwheel-equipped airplane with the runway before applying power. During the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted off the side of the runway and nosed down. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage in the vicinity of the right main landing gear attachment point. The pilot did not report any mechanical abnormalities of the airplane. The pilot had recently received a tailwheel endorsement. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he did not align the airplane with the runway prior to applying power. Then, during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted off the side of the runway, became airborne, impacted the grass area near the runway, and came to rest in a nose down attitude. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage in the vicinity of the right main landing gear attachment point. The pilot did not report any mechanical abnormalities of the airplane to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The pilot had recently received a tailwheel endorsement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7DF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7DF), registered now, S/N 1055-2007, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB - Registry model: [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (registry code 2121000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-h1b) (registry code 41883, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1055-2007 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-H1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: BVY, Beverly, MA - Destination: BVY, Beverly, MA - Airport: BVY, Beverly Municipal Airport, runway 27, 4,755 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review June 30, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 2,200 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: BVY ## 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 20120304002689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120304002689A), Mar 4, 2012: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, Beverly, MA, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was departing runway 27 at Beverly Municipal Airport. [privacy data omitted] Failed to align the aircraft up with the runway before… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83087. 2.7 MB in all. - FAA Phone Coversation with Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364621&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Phone%20Coversation%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Communication Attempt with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Communication%20Attempt%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies - Airport (item 3, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20-%20Airport-Redacted.PDF - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365782&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.PDF - Right side of Airplane (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364620&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Right%20side%20of%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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.