# NTSB NYC97LA157: Champion 7ECA, N4178Y, Easton, MD, August 3, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1997, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Easton, MD - Coordinates: 38.770252, -76.060554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7703&lon=-76.0606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39413 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39413/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA157 ## Probable cause an inadequate weld repair, which resulted in insufficient structural strength of the left main gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - fractured (cause) - maintenance,major repair - inadequate (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he made a 3-point landing with no bounce, and immediately thereafter, the airplane swerved left. He corrected, and the airplane started to swerve right, in a tightening circle. The left wing scrapped the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage. An FAA inspector reported that the landing gear failed at a weld. Corrosion was visible on a portion of the face of the fracture surface. There was no record of the weld in the airplane logbooks. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1997, about 0815 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N4178Y, was substantially damaged while landing at the Easton Airport, Easton, Maryland. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which originated at Anapolis, Maryland, at 1102. No flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...I monitored the AWOS, which reported the winds calm...My intention was to do a full stop landing [runway 04]...I had the stick full back when I landed, and it felt like a proper 3-point landing, with no bounce." "However, almost immediately aircraft began to swerve to the left. I corrected with right rudder, and the aircraft took a swerve to the right, which became a tightening swerve to the right that I could not control. This whole loss of control happened very quickly. The aircraft exited the runway to the right, completing an almost 180 degree turn. I could feel the landing gear collapsing and saw the left wing scraping the ground. I pulled the mixture and we came to a quick stop in the grass immediately off the runway. I then turned off the master and mags and exited the aircraft. " "An initial look see at the damage revealed wrinkled fabric on the left wing tip, the left main gear doubled up under the fuselage, and some damage to the under belly fabric...." The airplane was examined by an airworthiness inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who stated: "...The left landing gear attach tube, part number 7-1290-12 was broken at the weld where it attaches to the fuselage tubing. [the structural tubing on this aircraft is square] The tubing contained a weld repair...There was no penetration of the tubing. The break occurred right at the weld seam, not at the adjacent tubing wall...There was no shear lips on approximately half of the broken weld. This same section had corrosion on the fracture face...I reviewed the complete maintenance records for the aircraft and there was no entry for the weld repair. The operator of the aircraft, Fort Meade Army Flying Activity said they had no knowledge of the repair. ..." A check of FAA records revealed that the airplane was registered to the US Army on April 29, 1995. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4178Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4178Y-2022-12-31), registration cancelled 2022-12-31, S/N 1187-77 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1187-77 - Airframe hours: 5125 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fort Meade Flying Activity - Registered owner: Department Of The Army - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ANP, ANAPOLIS, MD - Destination: ESN - Airport: ESN, Easton, runway 4, 5,511 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,649 total, 28 in this make and model, 1,549 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SBY, 38 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 19970803020479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970803020479A), Aug 3, 1997: Bbavia 7ECA, Easton, MD, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped on landing. ## Other investigations on N4178Y (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 LAX87LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA001), Oct 2, 1986: Bellanca 7ECA (N4178Y), Palo Alto, CA, substantial damage 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.