The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fargo, North Dakota
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N2558E
Location: Mahnomen, MN
Accident Number: CEN17LA238
Date & Time: 06/20/2017, 2000 CDT
Registration: N2558E
Aircraft: AERONCA 7BCM
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On June 20, 2017, about 2000 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM airplane, N2558E, sustained substantial damage during initial climb from the Mahnomen County Airport (3N8), Mahnomen, Minnesota, when it impacted a bean field after a loss of control. The sport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The airplane was departing 3N8 on a local flight.
The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane earlier in the day. About 1900, he returned to the airport with the intention of going on a short local flight. He preflighted the airplane, including fuel samples, and taxied to the run-up area where he performed the before take-off checklist items. He departed from runway 35 and the initial takeoff roll was normal. The pilot then noted the airplane was not gaining airspeed and the engine was not developing full power; but he decided to continue the takeoff. Once he was committed to the takeoff, there seemed to be an even "greater loss of power He stated that the airplane did not gain more than 150 ft of altitude. He stated, "The power seemed to still be fading and I was basically 'hanging on the prop' when I decided to initiate a very slight bank (20 degrees)" to avoid a highway and powerlines. He stated that the airplane stalled and impacted a bean field adjacent to the airport.
Witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be going slow and not climbing before the airplane banked to the right and impacted the ground in a nose down attitude.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. He removed the valve covers and found a rusty valve springs. He stated that he was able to rotate the engine, and the crankshaft and drive train exhibited continuity. The magnetos turned and sparked. Fuel was found in the carburetor bowl. The spark plugs were normal in color and wear. The header fuel tank was ruptured. There was an auxiliary fuel tank in the left wing. The propeller exhibited minimal damage. He checked and confirmed flight control continuity. No preexisting anomalies to the engine and airframe were noted.
In the NTSB accident report which the pilot completed, he provided two recommendations on how the accident could have been prevented: 1. "Aborting the takeoff at the first sign of any kind of performance issue…with enough runway to stop plane." 2. Keep the noise canceling headset turned off during takeoffs and landings. He stated, "Perhaps I would have reacted differently (aborted) if my ears told me the same thing as the controls and instruments referring to the increasing loss of power/thrust/lift."
At 2015, the surface weather observation at 3N8 was: wind light and variable; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 20° C; dew point 8° C; altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. According to the carburetor icing chart, weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to moderate icing at cruise power or serious carburetor icing at descent power.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Sport Pilot
Age: 56, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 168 hours (Total, all aircraft), 168 hours (Total, this make and model), 143 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 27 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: AERONCA
Registration: N2558E
Model/Series: 7BCM
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 7AC-6141
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/18/2016, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 3730 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: C-86-12F
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 85 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: 3N8, 1245 ft msl
Observation Time: 2015 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C / 8°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Light and Variable, Variable
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Precipitation
Departure Point: Mahnomen, MN (3N8)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Mahnomen, MN (3N8)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 2000 CDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Mahnomen County Airport (3N8)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1245 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3400 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 47.267222, -95.920278 (est)
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 20, 2017 in Mahnomen, MN
Aircraft: AERONCA 7BCM, registration: N2558E
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On June 20, 2017, about 2030 central daylight time, an Aeronca 7BCM airplane, N2558E, sustained substantial damage during initial climb from the Mahnomen County Airport (3N8), Mahnomen, Minnesota, when it impacted terrain. The sport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The airplane was departing 3N8, but the destination is unknown.
A witness reported that he observed the airplane departing the airport. He stated that the airplane appeared to be going slow and not climbing. Then the airplane banked to the right and the airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude.
At 2015, the surface weather observation at 3N8 was: wind light and variable; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 20 degrees C; dew point 8 degrees C; altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury.
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