# NTSB NYC93LA149: Aeronca 7AC, N1844E, Portsmouth, OH, August 9, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1993, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Portsmouth, OH - Coordinates: 38.749427, -82.9505 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7494&lon=-82.9505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38627 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38627/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate start procedure which resulted in the airplane taxiing unmanned and its subsequent collision with a building. A factor is the pilot's failure to obtain assistance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - starting procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor) ## Analysis WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, THE PILOT HAND PROP STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE AIRPLANE TAXIED UNMANNED UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE WING STRUT AND REDIRECT THE AIRPLANE FROM TWO TRUCKS AND TOWARD A HANGAR DOOR. THE 1946 YEAR MODEL AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PARKING BRAKE. BEFORE HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE CHOCKED ONE WHEEL WITH A WEDGE OF WOOD. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WHICH INCLUDED A SECOND PRIMING, THE ENGINE STARTED WITH A SURGE, AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OVER THE SINGLE CHOCK. ## Factual narrative On Monday, August 9, 1993, at 0930 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca Champ, N1844E, piloted by Sandis Crabtree was substantially damaged when it struck a hanger door during an unmanned taxi at Portsmouth Regional Airport, Portsmouth, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. According the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector the airplane was not equipped with a parking brake. The FAA Inspector's report stated: "With the intent to fly, the airmen hand propped his 1946 Aeronca Champ, without properly securing the aircraft and no other person on board, for additional security. The airmen secured the right main landing gear only, with a single wheel chock...When the engine fired and ran, the aircraft jumped the single wheel chock..." In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated: "...the main gear was chocked with the provided wood wedge...both magneto switches were...off...[the] throttle was opened and the engine was primed...pulling the propeller through 10-12 times... [the] magneto...placed...on...[after] several attempts...the engine was not firing and the odor of fuel was not present ... [the] magneto switches were placed...off...[the] throttle opened, engine primed and the propeller pulled through...again the throttle was positioned slightly open...[the] magneto ... placed in the on position...on the fourth attempt the engine started with a momentary burst...the airplane...lunged forward over the wood chocks and rolled...toward two parked tractors....I was able to direct the plane...away from the tractors...the airplane... veered too close to the hanger...the left wing tip struck the hanger door...the momentum of the aircraft jerked the wing strut from my hands and caused the plane to pivot...until the propeller ...struck the door...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1844E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1844E), registered now, S/N 7AC-5411 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-5411 - Airframe hours: 4260 - Engines: CONTINENTAL A/65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Fisher - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1993, 20 hours before - Airport: PMH, Portsmouth Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 149 total, 50 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HTS, 30 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 19930809028339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930809028339A), Aug 9, 1993: Bbavia 7AC, Portsmouth, OH, Substantial damage. Hand prop start. Champ jumped single chock. Pilot grabbed wing. Able to turn it away from tractors but hit hangar. 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.