- Date
- March 10, 2011, 18:00 local (Mar 11, 2011, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Big Bear City, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2349EAeronca 7EC
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 78525
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper maintenance, which resulted in a wheel separating from the airplane during takeoff, and the airplane's subsequent nose over during the landing rollout.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he removed the left main landing gear wheel because its tire had a slow air leak. The pilot, who held a Federal Aviation Administration issued airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate, replaced the tube and reinstalled the wheel. He indicated that when performing this maintenance, he did not properly secure the wheel’s retaining nut with a cotter pin. During the takeoff roll, the attachment nut unscrewed and the wheel separated from the axle and airplane. The pilot flew around the area for about 30 minutes in an effort to burn off fuel. Upon landing, the airplane veered left off the runway and nosed over, breaking wing ribs and a lift strut.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he removed the left main landing gear wheel because its tire had a slow air leak. The pilot, who holds an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate, reported that after replacing the tube he reinstalled the wheel on his airplane. He indicated that when performing this maintenance, he did not properly secure the wheel’s retaining nut with a cotter pin. During his subsequent takeoff roll, the attachment nut unscrewed, and the wheel separated from the axle and airplane. The pilot flew around the area for about 30 minutes burning off fuel. Upon landing, the airplane veered left off the runway and nosed over, breaking wing ribs and a lift strut.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2349E
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7EC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC-5926
- Airframe hours
- 7,900
- Engine
- Cont Motor C90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 6, 2010 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- L35 · Big Bear City, CA
- Destination
- L35 · Big Bear City, CA
- Airport
- L35 · Big Bear City, runway 08, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 10, 2010
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 4,200 total · 50 in this make and model · 4,200 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 364 KB in all.