# NTSB FTW03LA078: Champion 7FC, N5271V, Springdale, AR, January 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 4, 2003, 11:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Springdale, AR - Coordinates: 36.176387, -94.119163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1764&lon=-94.1192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office (SW11) - NTSB case key (mKey): 56301 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56301/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56301 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The 1,377-hour pilot was not able to maintain directional control while landing on Runway 18. The pilot reported that as the tail came down, the aircraft weathervaned into the wind, heading off the runway towards a deep ditch. The pilot was able to fly the aircraft over the ditch, and the aircraft came to rest when the left main landing gear separated after colliding with a shallow ditch adjacent to a service road. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported from 240 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 2003, at 1135 central standard time, a Champion 7FC tailwheel-equipped airplane, N5271V, was substantially damaged during a ground loop while landing at the Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG), near Springdale, Arkansas. The instrument rated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. A flight plan was not filed for the pleasure flight. The local flight originated from the Bentonville Municipal Airport (VBT), near Bentonville, Arkansas, at 1120. The 1,377-hour pilot, who had accumulated 30 hours in the accident aircraft, reported that he had been cleared for a straight-in approach to Runway 18 at the ASG airport. The pilot stated, "Touchdown was normal, with the right wheel first, followed a few seconds later by the left. As the tail came down, the aircraft weathervaned into the wind, heading off the runway towards a deep ditch." The pilot was able to fly the aircraft over the ditch, and the aircraft came to rest when the left main landing gear separated after colliding with a shallow ditch adjacent to a service road. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing sustained structural damage, the left landing gear was torn-off the fuselage, the propeller and engine cowling were damaged, and the fuselage was missed aligned. At the time of the accident, the winds at ASG were reported from 240 degrees at 10 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, sky clear, temperature at 16 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 0 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the Investigator-in-Charge at 1,763 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5271V (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Champion 7FC - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-379 - Airframe hours: 4730 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald S. Williams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2002, 43 hours before - Departed: VBT, Bentonville, AR - Destination: ASG, Springdale, AR - Airport: ASG, Springdale Municipal Airport, runway 180, 5,302 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 23, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,377 total, 29 in this make and model, 1,287 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg ## 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 20030104003359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030104003359A), Jan 4, 2003: Bbavia 7FC, Springdale, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot reported that after the tail wheel touched down the airplane weather-vaned into the wind and despite correction, ground-looped and left the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56301. 293 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 293 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.