# NTSB WPR23LA355: American Champion 7GCBC, N234RA, Woodland, CA, September 7, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2023, 10:47 local (17:47 UTC)
- Place: Woodland, CA · airport
- Coordinates: 38.673876, -121.87207 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6739&lon=-121.8721&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193151
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA355
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193151/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193151
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA355

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that shortly after touchdown, during the landing roll, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, and ground looped. Subsequently, the right wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N234RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N234RA), registered now, S/N 13512003, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC
- Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 13512003
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 975.8
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tom Eaton Consulting LLC
- Registered owner: Tom Eaton Consulting LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: O41, Watts-Woodland, runway 18, 3,759 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,438.8 total, 39.2 in this make and model, 2,220.1 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KSMF, 13 nm away
- METAR: KSMF 071653Z 16005KT 10SM CLR 21/13 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP139 T02060128=

## 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 20230907016399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230907016399A), Sep 7, 2023: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Woodland, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot has a private certificate, asel and instrument airplane. Was working on his tail dragger endorsement in an airplane that he had purchased. Pilot stated…

## Other investigations on N234RA (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 GAA18CA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA176), Mar 18, 2018: American Champion 7GCBC (N234RA), Ontario, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during landing, in cross wind conditions.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193151. 3.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16183861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N234RA%20accident%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16184758&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20355-Rel.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.

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