# NTSB FTW95LA344: Champion 7ECA, N5147T, Monroe, LA, August 10, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1995, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Monroe, LA
- Coordinates: 32.510406, -92.079849 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5104&lon=-92.0798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19539
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA344
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19539/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA344

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command(cfi)
  - flare - improper, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE FIRST LANDING, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR INTENTIONALLY 'BALLOONED' THE AIRPLANE WITH THE INTENTION THAT THE RECOVERY FROM THE MANEUVER WOULD BE MADE BY THE STUDENT. THE STUDENT TOOK THE CONTROLS, ADDED POWER AND 'RETURNED TO A STALL LANDING.'  THE AIRPLANE 'STALLED' APPROXIMATELY 12 TO 18 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND, THE RIGHT WING 'DROPPED,' AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE OWNER AND OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ENROLLED AS A STUDENT IN THE TAILWHEEL TRAINING COURSE. THE HARD LANDING RESULTED IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SUPPORT TUBE, AND LONGERONS AND STRINGERS IN THE FUSELAGE AREA WERE TWISTED.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 1995, at 0900 central daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N5147T, was substantially damaged during a landing at Monroe Regional Airport, Monroe, Louisiana.  The certificated flight instructor and pilot rated student were not injured.  The airplane was being operated as a local instructional flight by McMahan Aviation under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.

According to the Pilot/Operator Report, during the first landing, the flight instructor intentionally "ballooned" the airplane with the intention that the recovery from the maneuver would be made by the student.  The student took the controls and added power and "returned to a stall landing."  The airplane "stalled" approximately 12 to 18 inches above the ground, the right wing "dropped," and the right main landing gear contacted the ground.

The owner and operator reported the following information during a telephone conversation with a NTSB investigator.  The commercial pilot was enrolled as a student in the tailwheel training course. The hard landing resulted in structural damage to the right main landing gear support tube, and longerons and stringers in the fuselage area were twisted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5147T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 555
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mcmahan Aviation
- Registered owner: Ronald E. Davis Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Departed: MLU
- Airport: MLU, Monroe Regional, runway 14, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,332 total, 101 in this make and model, 1,255 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19950810048939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950810048939A), Aug 10, 1995: Monroe, LA, Substantial damage. (-16) The instructor attempted to initiate simulation of a bounce or ballooning on landing of a conventionally geared aircraft. This was followed by the…

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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