# NTSB FTW99LA037: Bellanca 7GCBC, N5025C, Stuttgart, AR, November 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 1998, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Stuttgart, AR - Coordinates: 34.49052, -91.550445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4905&lon=-91.5504&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 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45363/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA037 ## Probable cause The separation of the left main landing gear bolt. ## 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,main gear attachment - separation (cause) - ground loop/swerve ## Analysis During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right side of the runway and application of the left rudder and brake by both occupants did not change the ground track. The airplane departed the runway and groundlooped. The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported a separation of a left main landing gear bolt. The reason for the bolt separation was not determined. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 1998, at 1345 central standard time, a Bellanca 7GCBC tailwheel equipped airplane, N5025C, groundlooped during the landing roll at the Stuttgart Municipal Airport, Stuttgart, Arkansas. The airplane, being flow by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was owned by Tool Goose Flying Company, Tunica, Mississippi. The private pilot and the pilot rated passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight that departed Tunica, Mississippi, at 1310. During personal telephone interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot, passenger, and the airport manager reported the following information. The airplane landed in a 3 point attitude on the centerline of runway 18. During the landing roll with approximately 25 knots speed, the airplane veered to the right side of the runway. Application of the left rudder and the left brake by both occupants had no effect. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway and groundlooped. The pilot and airport manager, who both examined the airplane, found structural damage to the fuselage and the left wing. The left main landing gear and propeller were also damaged. The airport manager reported that the left main wheel "rolled freely." The FAA inspector reported a separation of a left main landing gear bolt. The reason for the bolt separation was not determined. The pilot estimated that the failed bolt had accumulated 1302.2 flight hours since installation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5025C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5025C), registered now, S/N 1053-78, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1053-78 - Airframe hours: 1302 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Taylor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1998, 20 hours before - Departed: 30M, TUNICA, MS - Destination: SGT - Airport: SGT, Stuttgart Municipal, runway 18, 5,002 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 696 total, 14 in this make and model, 586 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SGT ## 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 19981127032429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981127032429A), Nov 27, 1998: Bbavia 7GCBC, Stuttgart, AR, Substantial damage. Acft ground looped on landing. (-23) during landing roll at 20 mph, the airplane veered to the right side of the runway and ground-looped. Failure of 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. --- 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.