# NTSB SEA05CA150: American Champion 7ECA, N16JE, Hailey, ID, July 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 23, 2005, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Hailey, ID - Coordinates: 43.503887, -114.295829 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5039&lon=-114.2958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62042/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA150 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include a crosswind, and soft terrain just off the side of the runway surface. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear strut - overload ## Analysis During the initial touchdown, the pilot inadvertently allowed the aircraft to bounce back into the air. At that time the aircraft encountered a crosswind gust that turned it away from the runway heading. When the aircraft touched down a second time, it was not aligned with the runway heading, and during his attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway, the pilot over-corrected, and the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft encountered soft terrain, followed immediately by the collapse of the right main gear. According to the pilot, there was no problem with any of the aircraft's flight controls. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2005, approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, an American Champion 7ECA, N16JE, experienced a collapse of its right main landing gear leg after the aircraft departed the side of the runway during the landing roll at Friedman Memorial Airport, Hailey, Idaho. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Salmon, Idaho, about two hours prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT, which was activated by the accident sequence, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, during the initial touchdown, he inadvertently allowed the aircraft to bounce back into the air. The aircraft then encountered a crosswind gust that turned it away from the runway heading. When the aircraft touched down a second time, it was not aligned with the runway heading, and according to the pilot, during his attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway, he over-corrected, and the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft encountered soft terrain, followed immediately by the collapse of the right main gear. According to the pilot, there was no problem with any of the aircraft's flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16JE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16JE-2021-01-09), registration cancelled 2021-01-09, S/N 580, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (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: 580 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C-1 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William A. Barrier - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KSNM, Salmon, ID - Destination: KSUN, Hailey, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 161 total, 61 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050723016909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050723016909A), Jul 23, 2005: Bbavia 7ECA, Hailey, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was cleared to land on runway 31. The wind was reported to be 240@12KTS. Upon flare, the pilot stated he floated down the runway, bounced once,… 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.