# NTSB FTW78IA071: Bellanca 7GCAA, N2578Z, Houston, TX, August 19, 1978

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 19, 1978
- Place: Houston, TX · HOUSTON, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78IA071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78IA071

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2251  78/8/19    HOUSTON,TX          BELLANCA 7GCAA      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE UNK/NR,
        TIME - 1145                    N2578Z              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL ADVERTISING        14000 TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOBBY AIRPORT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO USE OR INCORRECTLY USED MISC.EQUIPMENT
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLIES
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: RUDDER AND RUDDER TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        REMARKS- WHILE PICKING UP BANNER TOW CABLE HOOKED OVER TAIL WHEEL RUDDER HORN WHICH FAILED & SEPARATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2578Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2578Z), registered now, S/N 348-77, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (registry code 1220501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Hobby Airport

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19780819048809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780819048809I), Aug 19, 1978: Blanca 7GCAA, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. While picking up banner for towing operation cable wrapped around rudder horn. Tail wheel arm fractured.

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.

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