Saturday, November 09, 2019

Loss of Control on Ground: Champion 7EC, N7586E; accident occurred December 01, 2017 at Jackson County Airport (I18), Ravenswood, West Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Charleston, West Virginia 

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/N7586E

Location: Ravenswood, WV
Accident Number: ERA18LA040
Date & Time: 12/01/2017, 1615 EST
Registration: N7586E
Aircraft: CHAMPION 7EC
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On December 1, 2017, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Champion 7EC, N7586E, was substantially damaged while landing at Jackson County Airport (I18), Ravenswood, West Virginia. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by an individual as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

According to the pilot, he performed a circuit in the traffic pattern that was uneventful. The airplane was on final approach, at 50 mph and aligned with the runway centerline. The pilot then performed a three-point landing, and as the airplane's speed decreased, it began to veer to the right side of the runway. The pilot applied left aileron and full left rudder; however, the airplane continued off the right side of the runway. He applied full power to attempt to abort the landing, but after about 60 ft of ground roll, the airplane went down an embankment and came to rest. The pilot then egressed without injury and noted tire marks approximately 200 ft long on the runway and an additional 100 ft in the grass prior to going off the embankment.

Initial examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, right elevator, and fuselage were substantially damaged. In addition, the right main landing gear separated from the airplane.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. In addition, he held a flight instructor certificate for airplane single engine and instrument airplane. His most recent second-class medical certificate was issued on July 19, 2016. The pilot reported 1,756 total hours of flight time, of which, 39 hours were in the same make and model of the accident airplane. In addition, he reported no flight hours in the make and model of the accident airplane in the 90 days prior to the accident.

According to FAA airworthiness records, the airplane was manufactured in 1958. It was equipped with a Continental Motors C-90 series, 90-horsepower engine that drove a Sensenich fixed pitch propeller. According to airplane maintenance logbooks, the most recent annual inspection was completed on June 13, 2017, at 2,562.4 total aircraft hours, and a tachometer time of 468.5 hours. Each of the last three annual inspections were completed approximately every other year. At the time of the accident, the tachometer indicated 468.5 hours.

The 1615 recorded weather observation at Mason County Airport (3I2), Point Pleasant, West Virginia, located about 13 nautical miles west of the accident location, included calm wind, visibility 10 miles, clear skies below 12,000 ft above ground level, temperature 11°C, dew point -1°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.25 inches of mercury.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, the pilot stated that the right brake "seized upon landing." Although the right main landing gear was separated from the fuselage during the accident sequence, examination of the brake system by an FAA inspector revealed that there were no anomalies of the brakes that would have precluded normal operation. Both wheels rotated freely with no indication of brake binding or dragging. Both brake drums were smooth, and no binding was noted. The brake linings were intact, no fluid leaks were noted, and there were no mechanical anomalies. In addition, the main tires did not have any abnormal tread wear or bald spots. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 65, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam:07/19/2016
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  1756 hours (Total, all aircraft), 39 hours (Total, this make and model), 1686 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 37 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CHAMPION
Registration: N7586E
Model/Series: 7EC NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 7EC-680
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/13/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 0 Hours
Engines:  Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2562.4 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors Inc.
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: C-90-12
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 90 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: K3I2, 643 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1615 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 265°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.25 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 11°C / -1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ravenswood, WV (I18)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Ravenswood, WV (I18)
Type of Clearance: Unknown
Departure Time: 1605 EST
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: JACKSON COUNTY (I18)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 758 ft
Runway Surface Condition:Dry
Runway Used: 22
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4000 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.933056, -81.818056 (est)

3 comments:

  1. Could be a typo in the report but if the guy was really flying the approach at 50 MPH I could see a really high sink rate setting up that would knock one of landing gear off ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. 50 mph doesn't sound bad considering what he was flying. Stall speed is 38 mph. Power on approach is 42 mph. Power off approach is 52 mph.

    ReplyDelete
  3. In that airplane, there is nothing wrong with an approach speed of 50 mph.

    ReplyDelete