# NTSB MIA00LA072: Aeronca 7AC, N82029, Palmetto, FL, January 19, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 2000, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Palmetto, FL
- Location: 27.6426° N, 82.5199° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MANATEE (48X), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6426&lon=-82.5199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48539
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48539/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA072

## Probable cause

Failure for undetermined reasons of the right main landing gear strut during landing resulting in collapse of the right main landing gear.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - cracked
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - separation

## Analysis

The pilot stated that while landing the right main landing gear strut failed at a weld on the top part of the strut. The right main gear collapsed and folded under the aircraft. He welded the strut back on to relocate the aircraft. The fracture was destroyed and could not be examined by NTSB.

## Factual narrative

On January 19, 2000, about 1545 eastern standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N82029, registered to an individual, sustained damage when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing at Airport Manatee, Palmetto, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight last departed Palmetto, Florida, the same day, about 1540.

The pilot stated that while landing at Airport Manatee, the right main landing gear strut failed and the gear folded under the fuselage. The right wing tip contacted the ground and the aircraft rolled about 50 feet and came to rest. When he examined the collapsed right main landing gear after the accident, he determined the gear had collapsed due to a broken weld on the upper part of the strut assembly. He welded the separated gear back onto the aircraft to relocate the aircraft. The separation fracture surface was destroyed and could not be examined by NTSB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82029](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82029), registered now, S/N 7AC-655, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aeronca 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-655
- Airframe hours: 4169
- Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry W. Peters
- Registered owner: C. R. Fox
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1999, 10 hours before
- Departed: 48X
- Airport: 48X, Airport Manatee, runway 25, 3,714 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,500 total, 320 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 15 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 20000119000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000119000289A), Jan 19, 2000: Bbavia 7AC, Palmetto, FL, Substantial damage. (.4) On January 19, 2000, about 1545 eastern standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N82029, registered to an individual, sustained damaged when the right main landing…

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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