# NTSB ERA13CA040: Aeronca 7CCM, N4567E, Hampton, NH, October 24, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 24, 2012, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Hampton, NH
- Coordinates: 42.9575, -70.82389 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9575&lon=-70.8239&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85440/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85440
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA040

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare and touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Aeronca 7DC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7DC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7DC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7DC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2110116), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was conducting her first solo flight after 15 hours of dual instruction. On the first and second attempts at landing, the student pilot bounced, applied power and went around. On the third attempt at a landing in the pattern, a small helicopter was on the runway and she went around again. On the fourth attempt at landing, the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop on the right side of the runway. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the right side fuselage incurred substantial damage due to buckling. The flight instructor reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, the student pilot was conducting her first solo flight after 15 hours of dual instruction. On the first and second attempts at landing, the student pilot bounced, applied power and went around. On the third attempt at a landing in the pattern, a small helicopter was on the runway and she went around again. On the fourth attempt at landing, the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop on the right side of the runway. Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right side fuselage incurred substantial damage due to buckling. The flight instructor reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4567E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4567E), registered now, S/N 7CCM-133, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7CCM
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7DC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7dc) (registry code 2110116) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85-12F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12f) (registry code 17125, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7CCM-133
- Airframe hours: 4133
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: James Casian
- Registered owner: Hayes Winthrop H Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 2012
- Departed: 7B3, Hampton, NH
- Destination: 7B3, Hampton, NH
- Airport: 7B3, Hampton Airfield, runway 20, 2,100 × 170 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2012; flight hours: 27 total, 15 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: PSM, 1 nm away

## 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 20121024027189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121024027189A), Oct 24, 2012: Aeronca 7CCM, North Hampton, NH, Substantial damage. On first supervised solo flight [privacy data omitted] was attempting to land on runway 20 (2100 ft, grass), at Hampton, NH. (7B3). On first & second attempts…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85440. 9.6 MB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120. (item 1, .PDF, 532 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.-Redacted.PDF
- Student Pilot Statement. (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381198&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement.-Master.PDF
- Weather report. (item 3, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20report.-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Damage to right main landing gear. (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380387&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Damage%20to%20right%20main%20landing%20gear.%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Damage to the tips of the propeller. (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Damage%20to%20the%20tips%20of%20the%20propeller.%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Damage to right side fuselage. (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Damage%20to%20right%20side%20fuselage.%20(Courtesy%20of%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.

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