# NTSB ERA13FA372: Aeronca 7AC, N83863, Taunton, MA, August 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2013, 06:15 local (10:15 UTC) - Place: Taunton, MA - Coordinates: 41.872776, -71.011108 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8728&lon=-71.0111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 7, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Boston FSDO, Continental Motors Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 87854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13FA372 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87854/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87854 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA372 ## Probable cause The pilot/owner’s inadequate preflight inspection and inadequate pretakeoff check of the flight controls, which resulted in a takeoff with the rudder gust lock installed. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-rated passenger’s failure to detect that the rudder gust lock was installed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Flight control system: gust lock or damper](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022770): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022770/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022770/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner purchased the airplane about 1 month before the accident and was flying with a pilot-rated passenger who owned a similar model airplane. A witness reported that the airplane accelerated and climbed normally to an altitude of about 50 to 100 feet above the ground. It then entered a slow right turn and began to descend until it impacted the ground and immediately became engulfed in fire. The airplane came to rest in a ditch that was located about 1,100 feet from the beginning of the departure runway and 250 feet to the right of the runway center line. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a rudder gust lock was installed over the rudder and vertical stabilizer, which prevented movement of the rudder. The control lock was similar to a rudder gust lock that was observed installed on the passenger's airplane. No other discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane were noted. While it could not be determined who was at the controls of the airplane during the accident flight, both pilots should have noted the installation of the rudder gust lock either during a preflight inspection or during a pretakeoff check of the flight controls. ## Factual narrative The two-seat, tandem, high-wing, conventional gear airplane was manufactured 1946, and equipped with a Continental Motors C85-12, 85-horsepower engine. The airplane was constructed of welded tube covered by fabric. The fabric covered wings contained a wood spar with hydro-formed aluminum alloy ribs. Flight and engine controls could be manipulated by both the front and rear seated occupants. According to FAA records, at the time of the accident, the airplane was eligible to be operated under the light sport aircraft (LSA) category. A local mechanic reported that the pilot/owner did not have a current medical certificate and planned to operate the airplane as an LSA. According to fueling records, the airplane was refueled twice at TAN on August 11, 2013, with 5.7 and 7.3 gallons of aviation fuel, respectively. The airplane's logbooks were not located. Review of a pilot operating handbook for the same make and model airplane as the accident airplane revealed a preflight walk around inspection, which included a check of rudder control surface, and a pre-takeoff check of the flight controls. On August 25, 2013, about 0615 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N83863, operated by a private individual, was destroyed during a postcrash fire after it impacted the ground during the initial climb after takeoff from the Taunton Municipal Airport (TAN), Taunton, Massachusetts. The private pilot owner and a private pilot passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was based at TAN and purchased by the owner on July 31, 2013. According to the airport manager, the passenger also owned an Aeronca 7AC that was based at the airport. The airport manager further stated that a security access log showed that the passenger's credentials were utilized to gain access to the ramp area at 0537. A witness at the airport stated that he observed the airplane taking off from runway 30, a 3,500-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane accelerated and climbed normally to an altitude between 50 to 100 feet above the ground. The airplane then entered a slow right turn and began to descend until it impacted the ground and immediately became engulfed in fire. The witness added that he did not hear any engine anomalies during the accident sequence. The airplane impacted the ground and subsequently came to rest in a ditch located about 1,100 feet from the beginning of and 250 feet to the right of runway 30. Autopsies were performed on both occupants by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Boston, Massachusetts. The autopsy reports listed the cause of death for the pilot/owner as "blunt chest and abdominal trauma" and "smoke inhalation" for the pilot/passenger. Toxicological testing was performed on both occupants by the FAA Bioaeronautical Science ResearchLaboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The reported weather at OWD, at 0953, was: wind 100 degrees at 11 knots; visibility 2 miles in mist; overcast ceiling at 500 feet; temperature 17 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 61 degrees C; altimeter 29.58 inches of mercury. The pilot/owner, age 69, held a private pilot certificate that was issued during April 1986, with a rating for airplane single engine land. His pilot logbook was not located. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued on October 15, 1996. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 200 hours, which included 0 hours flown during the previous 6 months. The pilot/passenger, age 61, held a private pilot certificate that was issued during December 1982, with a rating for airplane single engine land. His pilot logbook was not located. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on September 30, 2010. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 1,525 hours, which included 30 hours flown during the previous 6 months. All components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The airplane came to rest upright; however, the nose section was folded upward and aft, which exposed the underside of the engine. A ground scar, which contained wooden propeller fragments, windshield fragments, and the right wingtip navigation light, was located about 15 feet to the south of the main wreckage. A postcrash fire destroyed the cockpit, and consumed the propeller and all fabric coverings, with the exception of the left aileron. The airplane's flight control cables remained connected at all flight control surfaces. A rudder control gust lock was observed installed over the rudder and vertical stabilizer. The control lock was about 48 inches long and constructed of about 3/4-inch "pvc" type tubing covered in a foam wrap. The control lock was similar to a rudder control gust lock that was observed installed on an Aeronca 7CCM that was parked at TAN and reported to be owned by the passenger. Examination of the engine, which included rotating the crankshaft, confirming valve train continuity and obtaining thumb compression on all cylinders, did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83863](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83863-2018-03-08), registration cancelled 2018-03-08, S/N 7AC-2544, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-2544 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TAN, Taunton, MA - Destination: TAN, Taunton, MA - Airport: TAN, Taunton Municipal, runway 30, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total - Pilot-rated passenger; age 61; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,525 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: TAN ## 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 20130825015979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130825015979A), Aug 25, 2013: Aeronca 7AC, Taunton, MA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. N83863 an Aeronca champ 7AC aircraft was taking off from runway 30 at King field, Taunton, mass. (Ktan). As aircraft lifted off it began a slow right bank… ## Docket (19 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87854. 38.6 MB in all. - Aircraft Bill of Sale - Accident Airplane (item 1, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Bill%20of%20Sale%20-%20Accident%20Airplane-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Bill of Sale - Pilot Rated Passenger Airplane (item 2, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Bill%20of%20Sale%20-%20Pilot%20Rated%20Passenger%20Airplane-Redacted.PDF - Airport Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Interview Memorandums (item 4, .PDF, 514 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Memorandums-Redacted.PDF - Taunton Police Department Report (item 5, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Taunton%20Police%20Department%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Fuel Receipt (item 6, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Receipt-Redacted.PDF - Aeronca Preflight Checklists (item 7, .PDF, 361 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aeronca%20Preflight%20Checklists-Master.PDF - FAA List of Light Sport Aircraft (item 8, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20List%20of%20Light%20Sport%20Aircraft-Master.PDF - Party Forms and Guidance (item 9, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Party%20Forms%20and%20Guidance-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report - Pilot (item 10, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report - Passenger (item 11, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report%20-%20Passenger-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (item 12, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Engine (item 13, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Engine-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Empennage (item 14, .PDF, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Empennage-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Rudder (item 15, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Rudder-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Rudder Gust Lock (item 16, .PDF, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Rudder%20Gust%20Lock-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Passenger's Airplane (item 17, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Passenger%27s%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 7 - Gust Lock on Passenger's Airplane (item 18, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20-%20Gust%20Lock%20on%20Passenger%27s%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Safety Alert- Flight Control Locks- Overlooking the Obvious (item 19, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Safety%20Alert-%20Flight%20Control%20Locks-%20Overlooking%20the%20Obvious-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.