# NTSB ERA13LA221: Aeronca 11AC, N3503E, Hoosick Falls, NY, April 28, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2013, 12:34 local (16:34 UTC) - Place: Hoosick Falls, NY - Coordinates: 42.890556, -73.336112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8906&lon=-73.3361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86755 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86755/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86755 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA221 ## Probable cause The failure of the left wing attachment bracket weld due to inadequate welding by unknown maintenance personnel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure: attach fittings (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md) - [Wing structure: attach fittings (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md) - [Wing structure: attach fittings (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/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: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0191102), [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 11AC, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis One witness reported observing the airplane "flying sideways" and another witness reported observing the airplane operating "in a large circular motion…losing altitude." The airplane subsequently impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was separated from its aft wing attachment bracket. Further examination of both wings' aft attachment brackets revealed that the welds had not fully penetrated into the base material and that they were of poor workmanship. No maintenance records were found indicating that the brackets had ever been replaced or welded; therefore, it could not be determined when or by whom the welds were made. Due to their location on the attachment brackets, the pilot would not have been able to detect that the welds were inadequate during his visual inspection of the airplane. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the left wing attachment bracket weld failed in flight, which resulted in the pilot being unable to maintain airplane control due to the wing's trailing edge being unattached. Although both wings' aft attachment brackets exhibited evidence of overstress fractures, these likely occurred during ground impact. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2013, about 1234 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N3503E, impacted the ground in a nose down attitude on a golf course near Hoosick Falls, New York. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, firewall, and fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that originated from the Chapin Field Airport (1B8), Cambridge, New York.According to several eyewitnesses, the airplane was observed flying overhead when some of the witnesses heard the airplane "throttle down" and then it appeared to be in a flat turn. One eyewitness stated that it appeared that the airplane "was flying sideways." Another eyewitness characterized it as a "large circular motion but kept losing altitude." Several witnesses also reported hearing the engine operating at an "idle" position the entire time. Several attempts to communicate with the pilot were unsuccessful; however, his spouse reported to the NTSB that her husband stated that the airplane "all of sudden would not respond to commands." Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude at the edge of a golf course, about 100 yards from several homes. The right wing exhibited impact crush damage on the outboard one half and the left wing was separated from the fuselage at the aft wing attachment bracket. According to copies of the airplane's maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was conducted on September 12, 2012. The recorded tachometer reading at that time was 1011.79 hours and the aircraft total time in service was 1684.33 total hours. The mechanic, that performed the inspection, noted that all inspections panels were opened and that all control cables, pulleys, attach fittings, hinges, and points were inspected and lubed. According to an FAA inspector, at the time of the accident, the airplane had 1702.33 hours total time in service and had operated about 18 hours since the most recent inspection. No entries were located, in the maintenance records provided, that indicated the brackets had ever been replaced or welded; a search of the NTSB database did not reveal any previous reported accidents for the accident airplane. The right and left wing aft attachment brackets, located on the trailing edge of the wing and attach the wing to the fuselage, were removed and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, DC, for further examination. Each wing attach bracket consisted of two plates held into place by two cross members welded between them. One right wing attach bracket cross member was absent and not recovered, the other cross member remained attached to only one of the plates. Examination of thefracture surfaces revealed that the fractures were consistent with overstress. The left wing aft attachment brackets consisted primarily of a welded cluster of tubing. Examination revealed one of the tubes was bent out of position and a corresponding fracture occurred at the location where it joined the other tubes in the cluster. The cross members had separated from the plates leaving one attached to each plate. The deformation of the plates and the fracture surfaces were consistent with overstress. Further examination of the welds that connected the cross members to the plates, of both attachment brackets, appeared to lack full penetration into the base material. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3503E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3503E-2013-05-31), registration cancelled 2013-05-31, S/N 11AC-1778, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC-1778 - Airframe hours: 1702.33 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2012, 18 hours before - Departed: 1B8, Cambidge, NY - Destination: 1B8, Cambidge, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: DDH, 6 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 20130428010029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130428010029A), Apr 28, 2013: Aeronca 11AC, Hossick Falls, NY, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed chapin field airport, NY (1B2) for local flight to the south. On return leg at approximately 1000 to 1500 feet AGL the pilot (sole occupant)… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86755. 12.5 MB in all. - Memorandum of Record – Documentation of Communication Attempt to Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Documentation%20of%20Communication%20Attempt%20to%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record: Email Excerpt from Eyewitness to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391819&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20Email%20Excerpt%20from%20Eyewitness%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Phone Interview with Eyewitness (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Phone%20Interview%20with%20Eyewitness-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory Factual Report (item 4, .PDF, 7 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record – Phone Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 5, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Phone%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Airframe Maintenance Records [Excerpts] (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Maintenance%20Records%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Bennington VT Weather (item 7, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Bennington%20VT%20Weather-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Conversation with FAA on Damage (item 8, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20on%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Top View of Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Top%20View%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Bottom View of Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391816&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Bottom%20View%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Top of Cabin with damaged Flat Stock for Carry Thru Cables (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 11, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Top%20of%20Cabin%20with%20damaged%20Flat%20Stock%20for%20Carry%20Thru%20Cables%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Separated Turnbuckle to Left Wing (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 12, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Separated%20Turnbuckle%20to%20Left%20Wing%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.