# NTSB NYC02LA163: Niemann Champion II, N7072X, Foxboro, MA, August 13, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 2002, 10:52 local (14:52 UTC)
- Place: Foxboro, MA
- Coordinates: 42.023887, -71.28833
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0239&lon=-71.2883&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO-01
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55490
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55490/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA163

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was attempting to land the floatplane on a lake.  About 1 foot above the water, a light gust of wind lifted the left wing.  The pilot did not correct for the wind, and the right float contacted the water.  The floatplane subsequently flipped over and sank.  The reported wind speed, at an airport approximately 10 miles away, was 4 knots.

## Factual narrative

On August 13, 2002, about 1052 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Champion II floatplane, N7072X, was substantially damaged while landing on Mirimichi Lake, Foxboro, Massachusetts.  The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he departed Middleboro, Massachusetts, about 1000.  About 1052, he was attempting to land on Mirimichi Lake with a headwind.  When the floatplane was approximately 1 foot above the water, a light gust of wind lifted the left wing.  The pilot did not to correct for the wind, and the right float contacted the water.  The floatplane subsequently flipped over and sank.  The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the floatplane.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the floats, wings, and fuselage.

The reported wind at an airport approximately 10 miles north of the accident site, at 1053, was from 190 degrees at 4 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7072X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7072X-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N CH2-0592-B-0849 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Niemann Champion II
- Registry model: [Niemann George/Sewall Robert CH II](https://openairdocs.org/model/niemann-george-sewall-robert-ch-ii) (registry code 05623L1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CH-2-0592-B-0849
- Airframe hours: 128
- Engines: Rotax 503DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John M. Arsenaut
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2002, 2 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Middleboro, MA
- Destination: NONE, Foxboro, MA
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 9, 2002; seat: single; flight hours: 424 total, 3 in this make and model, 341 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: OWD, 10 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 20020813020459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020813020459A), Aug 13, 2002: Amtr CHAMPIONII, Foxboro, MA, No damage. (-23) Took off out of fisher field middleboro, MA. Circled lake mirimichi a few times. Headwind. Touched down on lake. Wind came up from left side, gave power…

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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