# NTSB FTW00LA013: Champion 7FC, N4873E, Powderly, TX, September 30, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 1999, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Powderly, TX - Coordinates: 33.770362, -95.530372 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7704&lon=-95.5304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47629 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47629/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, during which he failed to detect the disconnected tailwheel steering assembly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,steering system - disconnected (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - go-around - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis During the landing roll, the airplane was uncontrollable and 'veered violently to the right.' The pilot added full power to avoid hitting a house. Subsequently, the airplane passed over the house, landed, and slid to a stop on its nose. Examination revealed that the springs had been removed from the tailwheel assembly. The pilot/owner stated that he did not look at the tailwheel assembly during the preflight. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 1999, at 1030 central daylight time, a Champion 7FC tailwheel equipped airplane, N4873E, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a go-around at a private turf airstrip near Powderly, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed from the private Flying Tiger Airport near Powderly, Texas, approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot/owner reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), that the airplane was at the Flying Tiger Airport, Powderly, Texas, for an annual maintenance inspection. To the owner's knowledge, the mechanic had not performed the requested maintenance on the aircraft, and the owner decided to fly the airplane to another private airstrip at Powderly, Texas for the annual inspection. The owner stated that during the departure from the Flying Tiger Airport, the takeoff had "felt touchy." During the landing at Powderly, the airplane was uncontrollable during the landing roll and "veered violently to the right." The pilot added full power to avoid hitting a house. Subsequently, the airplane passed over the house, landed, and "slid to a stop on its nose." The pilot and the FAA inspector examined the aircraft. The tailwheel springs were found removed from the tailwheel assembly. The fuselage was damaged at the right wing strut attachment point and the right wing spar was bent. The pilot's total flight time was 700 hours, of which 30 hours were in the accident aircraft. The pilot reported to the IIC that following the accident, he was informed that the mechanic at the Flying Tiger Airport had removed the springs from the tailwheel. The pilot further stated that he did not look at the tailwheel assembly during the preflight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4873E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4873E), registered now, S/N 7FC-313, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7FC - Registry model: [Champion 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (registry code 21101NX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-313 - Engines: Continental C90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry D. Jackson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total, 30 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 19990930045149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990930045149A), Sep 30, 1999: Bbavia 7FC, Powderly, TX, No damage. (-23) Pilot lost control of a/c on landing which he blamed on the fact that his tailwheel springs had been stolen. 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.