# NTSB ERA23LA095: Bellanca 7ECA, N2895Z, Hampton, NH, December 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 26, 2022, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Hampton, NH - Coordinates: 42.961268, -70.830154 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9613&lon=-70.8302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106494/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106494 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220460), [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: [Bellanca 7ECA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the uneventful local flight he heard two pilots on the radio discussing the wind conditions at his destination airport and that a direct crosswind prevailed there. While approaching the runway for landing, the pilot described that the wind was “choppy” and that he applied constant inputs with the rudder and aileron controls. Near the midpoint of the runway, the pilot described that he encountered stronger than expected wind from the right. The pilot landed the airplane on both main wheels and applied left rudder to stay aligned with the runway. Despite the control input from the pilot, the airplane veered to the right, departed the right side of the runway, and nosed-over resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2895Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2895Z), registered now, S/N 1242-78 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1242-78 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2232.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2022 - Departed: 7B3, Hampton, NH - Airport: 7B3, -70.8301542, runway 20, 2,105 × 121 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 651 total, 51 in this make and model, 543 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: PSM, 7 nm away - METAR: KPSM 261655Z 24008KT 10SM BKN250 M01/M12 A3009 RMK AO2A SLP193 T10091119 ## 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 20221226018999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221226018999A), Dec 26, 2022: Bellanca 7ECA, North Hampton, NH, Substantial damage. On December 26, 2022, at 12:35PM local, [privacy data omitted] was involved in an accident resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. This occurred at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106494. 10.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15082656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120p_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15107268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20Template-Rel.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.