# NTSB MIA84LA021: Champion 7HC, N8918R, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, October 29, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1983, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Location: 26.1973° N, 80.1707° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FORT LAUDERDALE EXEC (FXE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1973&lon=-80.1707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 31056 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31056/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84LA021 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - loose objects (contributing factor) - flt control syst,aileron control - foreign object damage (contributing factor) - flt control syst,aileron control - overload - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, takeoff - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - loose objects (contributing factor) - flt control syst,aileron control - foreign object damage (contributing factor) - flt control syst,aileron control - overload - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot of other aircraft - On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PLT OF CHAMPION 7HC, N8918R, STATED THAT HE TAXIED OVER A ROUGH FIELD TO RWY 13. WHILE CROSSING THE FIELD, SOMETHING STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELLAGE & BROKE THE AILRON BELLCRANK WHICH CONNECTED THE CONTROL STICK TO THE AILERON PUSHRODS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT JUST BEFORE LIFT-OFF, THE LEFT WING STARTED TO RISE VERY RAPIDLY, AND WE APPLIED FULL LEFT AILERON & RUDDER, BUT THE AILERONS DID NOT REACT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CHAMPION TURNED TO THE RIGHT & HEADED TOWARD A CESSNA 152, N93158, TAXIING ON A TAXIWAY. THE AIRCREW OF THE CESSNA STOPPED THEIR ACFT & BOTH OCCUPANTS DUCKED THEIR HEADS IN THE COCKPIT. THE RIGHT WING OF THE CHAMPION HIT THE CESSNA'S PROP, UPPER ENG COWLING & RIGHT WING, THEN THE CHAMPION CAME TO REST ON THE TAXIWAY BEHIND THE CESSNA. AN EXAM OF THE CHAMPION'S FRACTURED AILERON COMPONENTS SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS CRACKS OR FATIGUE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PLT OF CHAMPION 7HC, N8918R, STATED THAT HE TAXIED OVER A ROUGH FIELD TO RWY 13. WHILE CROSSING THE FIELD, SOMETHING STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE & BROKE THE AILERON BELLCRANK WHICH CONNECTED THE CONTROL STICK TO THE AILERON PUSHRODS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT JUST BEFORE LIFT-OFF, THE LEFT WING STARTED TO RISE VERY RAPIDLY, AND HE APPLIED FULL LEFT AILERON & RUDDER, BUT THE AILERONS DID NOT REACT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CHAMPION TURNED TO THE RIGHT & HEADED TOWARD A CESSNA 152, N93158, TAXIING ON A TAXIWAY. THE AIRCREW OF THE CESSNA STOPPED THEIR ACFT & BOTH OCCUPANTS DUCKED THEIR HEADS IN THE COCKPIT. THE RIGHT WING OF THE CHAMPION HIT THE CESSNA'S PROP, UPPER ENG COWLING & RIGHT WING, THE THE CHANPION CAME TO REST ON THE TAXIWAY BEHIND THE CESSNA. AN EXAM OF THE CHAMPION'S FRACTURED AILERON COMPONENTS SHOWED NO EVIDNECE OF PREVIOUS CRACKS OR FATIGUE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N8918R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8918R), registered now, S/N 7HC-20, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7HC - Registry model: [Champion 7HC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7hc) (registry code 21101PN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290-D2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d2b) (registry code 42092, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7HC-20 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerial Sign Company, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1983 - Airport: FXE, Ft Lauderdale, runway 13, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N93158 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285423 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skytel Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 1983 - Airport: FXE, Ft Lauderdale ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N8918R; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,374 total, 240 in this make and model, 1,145 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N93158; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 703 total, 275 in this make and model, 574 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 11 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FXE ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19831029056031A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831029056031A), Oct 29, 1983: Bbavia 7HC, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. No aileron control after liftoff. Struck a taxiing Cessna N93158.aileron control rod broken taxiing thru grass area - [Accident 19831029056032A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831029056032A), Oct 29, 1983: Cessna 152, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Struck by an out of control departing Aeronca N8918R while taxiing for takeoff. Aeronca had lost aileron control. 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.