# NTSB GAA17CA537: Bellanca 8GCBC, N181TM, Foley, AL, August 23, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 23, 2017, 08:55 local (13:55 UTC) - Place: Foley, AL - Coordinates: 30.444444, -87.659721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4444&lon=-87.6597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA537 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA537 ## Probable cause The ground crew’s incorrect hook up of the banner, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Misc hardware](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 1,557 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 2,289 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during banner towing operations, he was on approach to drop the banner and pulled the tow release, but the banner did not release. The banner hit the ground and broke away from the airplane, and the airplane nosed over. The release mechanism has three hooks, but they typically only use the No. 1 hook. Postaccident examination of the hook release mechanism did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented the banner from being released. The pilot believed that the ground crew mistakenly set up the No. 3 hook to pick up and tow the banner instead of the No. 1 hook. Therefore, when he went to release the banner from the No.1 hook, there was nothing to release. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during banner towing operations, he was on approach to drop the banner. He pulled the tow release, but the banner did not release. The banner hit the ground, broke away from the airplane, and the airplane nosed over. The release mechanism has three hooks, but they typically only use the No. 1 hook. A postaccident examination of the hook release mechanism did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented the banner from being released. The pilot believed that the ground crew mistakenly set-up hook No.3 to pick up and tow the banner instead of No. 1. Therefore, when he went to release the banner from hook No.1, there was nothing to release. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N181TM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N181TM), registered now, S/N 114-74 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 114-74 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 5909 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Adroaldo Begrow - Registered owner: Mike Collins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 2017 - Departed: 0AL1, Foley, AL - Destination: 0AL1, Foley, AL - Airport: 0AL1, Resort, runway 35, 2,640 × 70 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,066 total, 732 in this make and model, 1,066 as pilot in command, 475.2 in the last 90 days, 145.6 in the last 30 days, 5.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KJKA, 9 nm away ## 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 20170823010659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170823010659A), Aug 23, 2017: Bellanca 8GCBC, Foley, AL, Substantial damage. A banner towing system is comprised of a tow hitch which is mounted at the tail of the aircraft, cable assembly, and release handle located in the cockpit. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96020. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Email (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.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.