# NTSB SEA07LA093: Champion 7ECA, N6096F, East Wenatchee, WA, April 5, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 2007, 18:00 local (Apr 5, 2007, 01:00 UTC) - Place: East Wenatchee, WA - Coordinates: 47.398334, -120.206108 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3983&lon=-120.2061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Spokane Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 65550 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65550/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA093 ## Probable cause Separation of the left main landing gear shock absorbing strut during takeoff. A missing screw was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - separation (cause) - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - missing (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot reported that as the aircraft lifted off of the runway, he heard a "sound" from behind the passenger seat. The pilot received a radio call from another aircraft informing him that the "left landing gear did not look right." The pilot could not see the left landing gear leg from his seat, so he made a low, slow pass over an observer on the ground, who informed him via radio that the landing gear was "detached from the strut and dangling from the center of the fuselage." The pilot circled around and made a precautionary landing. The aircraft momentarily touched down on just the right main wheel and tail wheel, and then the left wing lowered and contacted the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the aircraft ground looped to the left, coming to a rest in an upright position. Post-accident inspection of the aircraft by one of the owners revealed that the left landing gear lock nut was missing a lock nut set screw. According to the owner, without the set screw it is possible that the lock nut could have unthreaded, which would have allowed the cylinder assembly to separate from the axle strut assembly. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2007, about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7ECA airplane, N6096F, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee, Washington. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The pilot/registered owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Pangborn about 1750. The pilot reported that as the aircraft lifted off of the runway, he heard a "sound" from behind the passenger seat. The pilot received a radio call from another aircraft informing him that the "left landing gear did not look right." The pilot could not see the left landing gear leg from his seat, so he made a low, slow pass over an observer on the ground, who informed him via radio that the landing gear was "detached from the strut and dangling from the center of the fuselage." The pilot circled around and made a precautionary landing. The aircraft momentarily touched down on just the right main wheel and tail wheel, and then the left wing lowered and contacted the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the aircraft ground looped to the left, coming to a rest in an upright position. Post-accident inspection of the aircraft by one of the owners revealed that the left landing gear lock nut was missing a lock nut set screw. According to the owner, without the set screw it is possible that the lock nut could have unthreaded, which would have allowed the cylinder assembly to separate from the axle strut assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6096F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6096F), registered now, S/N 7ECA-352, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7ECA-352 - Airframe hours: 1690 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2B 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Daniel Morasch - Registered owner: Daniel W. Morasch/Patricia Moore - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006 - Departed: EAT, WENATCHEE, WA - Destination: WENATCHEE, WA - Airport: EAT, Pangborn Memorial, runway 7, 4,460 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 2,452 total, 106 in this make and model, 1,749 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KEAT, 1 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 20070404006189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070404006189A), Apr 4, 2007: Bbavia 7ECA, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) LH MLG suffered mechanical problems during take-off. Lock nut (pn 1-2984) at bottom of MLG strut threads failed. Bottom half of strut detached from upper… ## Other investigations on N6096F (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 GAA15CA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA065), May 10, 2015: Champion 7ECA (N6096F), Quincy, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. 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.