# NTSB LAX94LA170: Aeronca 7BCM, N6434C, Santa Paula, CA, February 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 1994, 17:20 local (Feb 25, 1994, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Santa Paula, CA - Coordinates: 34.399272, -119.070251 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3993&lon=-119.0703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA170 ## Probable cause the existing meteorological conditions that were conducive to carburetor icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis THE CFI WAS ADMINISTERING A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW TO THE PRIVATE PILOT. AFTER PERFORMING SOME MANEUVERS AT THE PRACTICE AREA, THE FLIGHT RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND EXECUTED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND TAKEOFF. AFTER THE INITIAL LANDING, THE PRIVATE PILOT CLOSED THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND APPLIED FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE CFI ASSUMED THE CONTROLS AND LANDED ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE CFI INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE TO PREVENT IT FROM COLLIDING WITH A DITCH AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TWO VEHICLES DURING THE GROUND LOOP. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ENGINE PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 1994, at 1720 hours Pacific standard time, an Aeronca 7BCM, N6434C, collided with some vehicles after completing an emergency landing on runway 22 at Santa Paula Airport, Santa Paula, California. The emergency landing was preceded by a loss of power shortly after taking off from runway 22. The pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were conducting a local visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the dual student, and two ground vehicles sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated commercial pilot/CFI nor the certificated private pilot/dual student was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Santa Paula Airport at 1650 hours. The CFI reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he was administering a biennial flight review to the dual student. The flight proceeded to the practice area after departing Santa Paula Airport. After the dual student performed several maneuvers, the CFI instructed the dual student to return to Santa Paula Airport and execute a touch-and-go landing and takeoff. The dual student executed a normal landing on runway 22 and then closed the carburetor heat, applied power, and took off. When the airplane was about 100 feet above the ground with about 60 percent of the runway remaining, the engine "suddenly sputtered" and lost most of its power. The CFI assumed the controls, completely retarded the throttle, and executed an emergency landing. The airplane touched down on the runway near or abeam the opposite direction runway numbers. The airplane swerved to the right, and the CFI intentionally "ground looped" the airplane hoping to dissipate the energy (ground speed). The airplane spun around and struck two vehicles before stopping. This accident was reported to the National Transportation Safety Board by Mr. Adrian Grieve, Aviation Safety Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Van Nuys [California] Flight Standards District Office, on March 22, 1994. Inspector Grieve conducted the on-scene investigation. He reported that the examination of the airplane and engine disclosed no evidence of the preexisting malfunctions or failures. The engine operated normally during the postaccident engine run. Inspector Grieve said that the outside air temperature (OAT) was 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity was between 60 to 80 percent. He reported that the OAT and prevailing humidity was conducive to carburetor icing conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6434C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6434C), registered now, S/N 7BCM-141, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7BCM - Registry model: [Aeronca 7BCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7bcm) (registry code 2110106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7BCM-41 - Airframe hours: 2640 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Janice A. Evans - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1993, 10 hours before - Departed: SZP - Airport: SZP, Santa Paula, runway 22, 2,600 × 45 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,986 total, 18 in this make and model, 1,841 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 19940224000869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940224000869A), Feb 24, 1994: Bbavia 7BCM, Santa Paula, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on lift off. Tried to land on end runway. Ground looped to dissipate energy and struck 2 vehicles. ## Other investigations on N6434C (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC79FA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79FA050), May 20, 1979: Aeronca 7BCM (N6434C), Juneau, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal 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.