# NTSB NYC89LA112: Champion 8KCAB, N2520Z, Manchester, NH, April 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1989, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Manchester, NH
- Location: 42.9956° N, 71.4548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Manchester, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9956&lon=-71.4548&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36392
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36392/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA112

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A PARKED AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE INADVERTENT APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE THAT TOOK PLACE AS THE PILOT WAS FASTENING THE OVER THE SHOULDER SAFETY HARNESS WHILE WARMING THE ENGINE IN PREPARATION FOR DEPARTURE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - engine(s) operating
  - throttle/power lever - entangled (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - throttle/power control - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE DECATHLON STATED THAT SHE HAD WARMED UP THE ENGINE AND WAS ATTACHING THE OVER-THE-SHOULDER STRAP FROM THE REAR ATTACHING POINT. AS SHE PULLED THE STRAP TO FASTEN IT, USING AN UNDERHAND MOTION, THE AIRCRAFT 'LURCHED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE'. THE TAIL WHEEL WAS COCKED OFF TO THE RIGHT, SO THE AIRCRAFT WENT TO THE RIGHT AT FULL THROTTLE AND CAUGHT THE REAR OF A PIPER PA-32R'S LEFT WING. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE SHOULDER STRAP HAD CAUGHT ON THE REAR POWER QUADRANT AND ADVANCED IT TO FULL THROTTLE WHEN SHE PULLED ON IT TO FASTEN IT. THE DAY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT A STATE AERONAUTICS COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE ATTEMPTED TO DUPLICATE THE ACCIDENT AS DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2520Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2520Z-2000-08-15), registration cancelled 2000-08-15, S/N 336-77 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 8KCAB
- Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 336-77
- Airframe hours: 1571
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Carol Grant
- Registered owner: Kenneth R Grant
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1988
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: Manchester

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,301 total, 449 in this make and model, 1,113 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19890403010499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890403010499A), Apr 3, 1989: Bbavia 8KCAB, Manchester, NH, Substantial damage. Aircraft lurched forward at full throttle into 2 parked aircraft after starting. Blames strap caught rear throttle.

## Other investigations on N2520Z (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 IAD00LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA027), Mar 18, 2000: Bellanca 8KCAB (N2520Z), Erwinna, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the improper entry into the traffic pattern by the pilot of the Piper airplane and the inadequate lookout by the pilots in both airplanes. A factor in the accident was that radio communication was…

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.