LAX02LA009

NTSB accident investigation · Bellanca 7ECA · Chandler, AZ · October 21, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 21, 2001, 09:08 local (16:08 UTC)
Place
Chandler, AZ
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N2987ZBellanca 7ECAN6049XMooney M20A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 24, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
WP-FSDO
Case key
53647

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The Bellanca pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing due to his improper brake usage.

The Bellanca pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing due to his improper brake usage.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Standing - engine(s) operating
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Directional control - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

A Bellanca and a Mooney were initially standing side-by-side at runway 04L's runup area. The Bellanca pilot, having completed his pretakeoff check, proceeded toward the runway's hold short lines. As the Bellanca began taxiing, the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the conventional gear airplane, and it veered left heading toward the standing Mooney. The Bellanca pilot was unable to regain directional control and he failed to aggressively apply brakes, which resulted in his impacting the Mooney's left wing. The subsequent examination of the Bellanca's directional control and braking system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction.

A Bellanca and a Mooney were initially standing side-by-side at runway 04L's run-up area. The Bellanca pilot, having completed its pretakeoff check proceeded toward the runway's hold short lines. As the Bellanca began taxiing, the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the conventional gear airplane, and it veered left heading toward the standing Mooney. The Bellanca pilot was unable to regain directional control and he failed to aggressively apply brakes, which resulted in his impacting the Mooney's left wing. The subsequent examination of the Bellanca's directional control and braking system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction.

Factual narrative

On October 21, 2001, about 0908 hours mountain standard time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N2987Z, experienced an on-ground collision with a Mooney M20A, N6049X, at the Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona. At the time of the collision, the Bellanca was starting to taxi for takeoff, and the Mooney was standing nearby in the run-up area. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Bellanca had been rented from PBJ Aircraft, Inc., at the Chandler Municipal Airport. The Mooney was owned by its pilot. The Bellanca sustained minor propeller damage, and the Mooney's wing was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot in the Bellanca nor the commercial pilot in the Mooney was injured. The personal flights were operating under 14 CFR Part 91, and they were originating at the time.

The Bellanca pilot reported that he had completed his engine run-up and had commenced taxiing toward runway 04L's hold short lines, located about 30 feet ahead and to his right. The Bellanca began taxiing from his heretofore stationary location, and he veered left. The pilot indicated that he attempted to correct the airplane's taxi path away from the Mooney that had been located on his left side next to him in the run-up area. The Bellanca pilot indicated that he was able to momentarily stop the left turn. However, the airplane turned left again. Despite his application of right rudder and right brake, the airplane veered left until coming into contact with the Mooney that was still standing nearby in the run-up area.

The Mooney pilot reported that he was also located in the run-up area and was performing the pretakeoff check at the time of the collision. His airplane's brakes were set. He had noticed the Bellanca, which had initially been located in the run-up area to his right side, taxiing perpendicular to and in front of his position. The Bellanca turned left and then approached his airplane in a nearly head-on course until it stopped upon striking his left wing.

The Federal Aviation Administration Coordinator reported that the Bellanca was subsequently examined. No evidence of any mechanical malfunctions were found with the airplane's directional control and braking system.

On October 21, 2001, about 0908 hours mountain standard time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N2987Z, experienced an on-ground collision with a Mooney M20A, N6049X, at the Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona. At the time of the collision, the Bellanca was starting to taxi for takeoff, and the Mooney was standing nearby in the run-up area. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Bellanca had been rented from PBJ Aircraft, Inc., at the Chandler Municipal Airport. The Mooney was owned by its pilot. The Bellanca sustained minor propeller damage, and the Mooney's wing was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot in the Bellanca nor the commercial pilot in the Mooney was injured. The personal flights were operating under 14 CFR Part 91, and they were originating at the time.

The Bellanca pilot reported that he had completed his engine run-up and had commenced taxiing toward runway 04L's hold short lines, located about 30 feet ahead and to his right. The Bellanca began taxiing from his heretofore stationary location, and he veered left. The pilot indicated that he attempted to correct the airplane's taxi path away from the Mooney that had been located on his left side next to him in the run-up area. The Bellanca pilot indicated that he was able to momentarily stop the left turn. However, the airplane turned left again. Despite his application of right rudder and right brake, the airplane veered left until coming into contact with the Mooney that was still standing nearby in the run-up area.

The Mooney pilot reported that he was also located in the run-up area and was performing the pretakeoff check at the time of the collision. His airplane's brakes were set. He had noticed the Bellanca, which had initially been located in the run-up area to his right side, taxiing perpendicular to and in front of his position. The Bellanca turned left and then approached his airplane in a nearly head-on course until it stopped upon striking his left wing.

The Federal Aviation Administration Coordinator reported that the Bellanca was subsequently examined. No evidence of any mechanical malfunctions were found with the airplane's directional control and braking system.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N2987Z
Reported as
Bellanca 7ECA
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1246-78
Airframe hours
3,896
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
PBJ Aircraft, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · June 21, 2001
Departed
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Destination
CHD · AZ
Airport
CHD · Chandler Municipal

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N6049X
Reported as
Mooney M20A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1640
Airframe hours
3,997
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Curtis R. Halllam
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 9, 2001 · 81 hours before
Departed
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Destination
Chandler, AZ
Airport
CHD · Chandler Municipal

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N2987Z
Age
39
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 15, 2000
Seat
Front
Flight hours
309 total · 7 in this make and model · 236 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N6049X
Age
51
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 3, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
585 total · 425 in this make and model · 482 as pilot in command · 71 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
130° at 3 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 30 °F
Altimeter
29.94 inHg
Observed at
IWA, 8 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N2987Z · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.