# NTSB WPR19CA069: Champion 7GCBC, N822TT, Townsend, MT, January 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 16, 2019, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Townsend, MT - Coordinates: 46.308055, -111.53778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3081&lon=-111.5378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 98843 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98843/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98843 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19CA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a precautionary landing on an uneven, soft surface. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, during the local pleasure flight, the engine started to run roughly and that he thought that it was due to carburetor ice. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and after about 3 minutes, the engine still did not seem like it was running smoothly. The pilot initiated a climb; however, the airplane would not gain altitude, so he chose to make a precautionary landing on a sandbar in a river. After touchdown on the rough and bumpy surface, the pilot applied braking action. The wheels dug into the soft sand, and subsequently the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The wings and the left lift strut were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the engine or airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest weather reporting facility, located about 27 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, reported that, about the time of the accident, the temperature was 30°F and the dew point was 16°F, which was near the range of atmospheric conditions being conducive to icing at glide and cruise power settings. . ## Factual narrative The private pilot reported that during the local pleasure flight the engine started to run rough and he thought that it was as a result of carburetor ice. The pilot applied carburetor heat and after about 3 minutes the engine still did not seem like it was running smoothly. The pilot initiated a climb, however the airplane would not gain altitude so he opted to make a precautionary landing on a sandbar in a river. After touch down on the rough and bumpy surface, the pilot applied braking action. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted after the wheels dug into an area of soft sand. The wings and the left side lift strut were substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions with the engine or airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest weather reporting facility was located about 27 nautical miles to the northwest of the accident site. About the time of the accident, the reported temperature of 30oF and dew point of 16oF was at the edge of the range on the carburetor probability chart of icing at glide and cruise power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N822TT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N822TT), registered now, S/N 351-72 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCBC (No Series) - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 351-72 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2010 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 2018, 57 hours before - Departed: KHLN, Helena, MT - Destination: KHLN, Helena, MT - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2018; seat: front; flight hours: 185.6 total, 56.7 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KHLN, 27 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 20190116000239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190116000239A), Jan 16, 2019: Bellanca 7GCBC, Townsend, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying along Missouri river around 800' AGL. Upon crossing an island known to be a good landing spot he turned back around and flew lower to check it… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98843. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 3, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470920&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470921&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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.