# NTSB MIA08CA095: Champion 7KCAB, N1682G, Alexander City, AL, April 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 23, 2008, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Alexander City, AL - Coordinates: 32.914722, -85.962776 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9147&lon=-85.9628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67912/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA095 ## Probable cause The separation of the right tail wheel spring on landing roll out for undetermined reasons, resulting in a loss of directional control and collision with a ditch. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was conducting a personal flight with the owner of the airplane. The owner did not have any flight time in make and model. The airplane had a pre-buy inspection conducted two days before the accident and no anomalies were noted. The pilot conducted a preflight inspection before the flight and no anomalies were noted. The pilot and the owner departed on runway 36 and remained in a left closed traffic pattern. The pilot made a three-point landing in the first 1,000 feet of the runway, and was on the landing roll out, when the tailwheel started to shimmy. He applied forward pressure on the control stick and raised the tailwheel off the runway. The shimmy ceased and the pilot applied aft pressure on the control stick and lowered the tail wheel onto the runway. The airplane immediately veered to the right. The pilot applied left brake and rudder, but the airplane continued to the right off the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch. The right main landing gear separated and the right wing received structural damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the right spring on the tailwheel control had separated from the rudder and the tailwheel attachment. The tailwheel spring was located about 20 feet off the right side of the runway and there was no visible damage to the tailwheel spring or the upper and lower attachments points. The previous owner stated that he informed the new owner of the tendency for the tailwheel to shimmy during the three-point landings. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he was conducting a personal flight with the owner of the airplane. The owner did not have any flight time in make and model. The airplane had a pre-buy inspection conducted two days before the accident and no anomalies were noted. The pilot conducted a preflight inspection before the flight and no anomalies were noted. The pilot and the owner departed on runway 36 and remained in a left closed traffic pattern. The pilot made a three-point landing in the first 1,000 feet of the runway, and was on landing roll out, when the tail wheel started to shimmy. He applied forward pressure on the control stick and raised the tail wheel off the runway. The shimmy ceased and the pilot applied aft pressure on the control stick and lowered the tail wheel onto the runway. The airplane immediately veered to the right. The pilot applied left brake and rudder, but the airplane continued to the right off the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch. The right main landing gear separated and the right wing received structural damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the right spring on the tail wheel control had separated from the rudder and the tail wheel attachment. The tail wheel spring was located about 20 feet off the right side of the runway and there was no visible damage to the tail wheel spring or the upper and lower attachments points. The previous owner stated that he informed the new owner of the tendency for the tail wheel to shimmy during three-point landings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1682G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1682G-2022-01-08), registration cancelled 2022-01-08, S/N 137, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7KCAB - Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 137 - Airframe hours: 1209 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James V. Hamilton - Registered owner: David S. Kaiser - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007 - Departed: KALX, Alexander City, AL - Destination: KALX - Airport: KALX, Thomas C. Russell Field, runway 36, 5,425 × 96 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 10,170 total, 27 in this make and model, 7,318 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KMXF, 37 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 20080423836229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080423836229A), Apr 23, 2008: Bbavia 7KCAB, Alexander City, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot of aircraft N1682G, a 7AC champion, was landing on runway 36, at alx. The touch down was normal. The aircraft traveled approximately 100 feet,… ## Other investigations on N1682G (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 WPR18FA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA237), Aug 22, 2018: Champion 7KCAB (N1682G), Descanso, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to enter a spin without sufficient altitude to recover. Also causal to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight weight and balance calculations, which placed 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.