# NTSB MKC84LA021: Bellanca 7ECA, N53842, St. Joseph, MO, November 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 14, 1983, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: St. Joseph, MO
- Location: 39.7719° N, 94.9097° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ROSECRANS MEML (STJ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7719&lon=-94.9097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33589
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC84LA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33589/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA021

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear strut - fatigue (cause)
- Nose down, landing

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSED DOWN DURING LANDING AFTER THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT FAILED. THE PLT STATED THAT ON THE 2ND TOUCH- AND-GO LANDING, HE FELT A VIBRATION AND SAW THE LEFT GEAR STRUT TRAILING AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE PLT CHOSE TO LAND ON THE GRASS BESIDE THE RWY. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED DOWN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ATTACH BOLT, BELLANCA PN MS20007, HAD BROKEN. THE NTSB LAB FOUND THAT THE BOLT REVEALED FEATURES TYPICAL OF HIGH STRESS FATIGUE CRACKING OVER MOST OF THE FRACTURE FACE. TWO SEPARATE REGIONS OF FATIGUE CRACKING WERE NOTICEABLE ON THE FRACTURE FACE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53842](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53842), registered now, S/N 1125-75 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1125-75
- Airframe hours: 576
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Trailwinds Flying Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 1983, 115 hours before
- Departed: STJ, ST. JOSEPH, MO
- Airport: STJ, Rosecrans Mem, runway 31, 6,000 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,100 total, 45 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KCI, 31 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 19831114057449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831114057449A), Nov 14, 1983: Bbavia 7ECA, St Joseph, MO, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear attach bolt failed during a touch and go. Left gear collapsed on next 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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