# NTSB NYC00LA012: American Champion 8GCBC, N403AC, Whiting, VT, October 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 10, 1999, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Whiting, VT - Location: 43.8640° N, 73.2004° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Whiting, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8640&lon=-73.2004&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47645 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47645/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA012 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight passenger briefing, which resulted in control interference. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - control interference, passenger (cause) - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis After a normal takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off the ground and immediately yawed to the left. The pilot stated he was unable to correct the yawing by applying right rudder, and said the right rudder travel was 'short and stiff.' As the airplane approached the trees, he pulled the power back and attempted to land. During the landing, the airplane's right main landing gear was sheared and the right wing and fuselage were damaged. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions with the airplane. Additionally, examination of the airplane's rudder system revealed that the rudder travel was in accordance with the airplane's type certificate data sheet. After the accident, the pilot stated that the passenger was 6-feet 2-inches tall, and while he did not feel the passenger pushing on the rudder pedals, it was possible that the passenger may have had his feet on the rudder pedals. Additionally, he stated he always briefed passengers about not touching the control stick; however, he did not brief passengers about the rudder pedals. ## Factual narrative On October 10, 1999, about 1300 Eastern Daylight Time, an American Champion 8GCBC, N403AC, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from a private grass strip in Whiting, Vermont. The certificated commercial pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the grass strip was about 1,200 feet long, by 90 feet wide, and oriented on a North/South direction. Trees were located to the south, and along both sides the runway. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that after a normal takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off the ground and immediately yawed to the left. The pilot stated he was unable to correct the yawing by applying right rudder, and said the right rudder travel was "short and stiff." As the airplane approached the trees, he pulled the power back and attempted to land. During the landing, the airplane's right main landing gear was sheared. Additionally, the right wing and fuselage were damaged. The airplane came to rest on the runway. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions with the airplane. When the rudder pedals in the cockpit were depressed, an equal amount left and right deflection was noted. Additionally, a follow up examination of the airplane's rudder system revealed that the rudder travel was in accordance with the airplane's type certificate data sheet. In a follow-up telephone interview, the pilot stated that the passenger was 6-feet 2-inches tall, and while he did not feel the passenger pushing on the rudder pedals, it was possible that the passenger may have had his feet on the rudder pedals. Additionally, he stated he always briefed passengers about not touching the control stick; however, he did not brief passengers about the rudder pedals. Winds reported at an airport about 35 miles north of the accident site, at 1254, were from 180 degrees at 17 knots, with 21 knot gusts; however, the pilot reported the winds at the strip were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N403AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N403AC-2007-06-22), registration cancelled 2007-06-22, S/N 403-99, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 8GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-C1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-c1f) (registry code 41573, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 403-99 - Airframe hours: 44 - Engines: Lycoming O-360C1F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward S. Midgley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, runway 36, 1,350 × 250 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,412 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 17 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BTV, 35 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 19991010042559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991010042559A), Oct 10, 1999: Bbavia 8GCBC, Whiting, VT, Substantial damage. (.4)After a normal takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off the ground and immediately yawed to the left. The pilot stated he was unable to correct the yawing by… 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.