Ground Handling Event: Aeronca 11AC, N9149E; accident occurred July 05, 2021 at Neil Armstrong Airport (KAXV), Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio

In a follow-up to this accident, the damaged Aeronca 11AC, N9149E, has been sold and Ted Bergstrom, airport manager, said the anticipated removal date is October 14, 2021. The original aircraft owner had elected to take the insurance settlement rather than repair the damaged wingtip. Since the auction was done as a blind bid, he had no figures on what the successful bid was. The airport manager said the airplane owner’s insurance was billed for $545 for hangar rental and $900 for repair of the hangar door.

 

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

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

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbus, Ohio

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket 

https://registry.faa.gov/N9149E

Location: Wapakoneta, Ohio

Accident Number: CEN21LA310

Date and Time: July 5, 2021, 12:00 Local 

Registration: N9149E

Aircraft: Aeronca 11AC

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Ground handling event

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The airplane was not equipped with an electrical system and the engine was started by hand propping. The pilot reported that he did not have a passenger to hold the brakes in the cockpit during engine start, nor did he use wheel chocks and/or tether the tail to a fixed object because he thought using the airplane’s parking brake would keep the airplane stationary after the engine had started. Before the engine was hand propped, the pilot set the throttle about ¼” to ½” forward of the idle position, but the engine’s speed was much higher than he had expected after the engine started. The unoccupied airplane initially moved forward before it entered a left turn on the ramp in front of a row of hangars. Although the pilot was able to reach into the cockpit to move the throttle to idle, the airplane continued in the left turn and struck a closed hangar door, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The pilot’s inadequate engine hand propping procedure resulting in the unoccupied airplane’s unintended movement and subsequent impact with a hangar.

Findings

Aircraft Tie-down/mooring - Not installed/available

Aircraft Landing gear brakes system - Capability exceeded

Personnel issues (general) - Pilot

Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Standing-engine(s) start-up Ground handling event (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor 

Age: 55, Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea

Seat Occupied: None

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 

Restraint Used: None

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine

Toxicology Performed:

Medical Certification: Class 2 Without waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam: October 16, 2020

Occupational Pilot: No Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 12, 2020

Flight Time: (Estimated) 3205 hours (Total, all aircraft), 30 hours (Total, this make and model), 3150 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 120 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 26 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Aeronca

Registration: N9149E

Model/Series: 11AC

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 1946 

Amateur Built:

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal

Serial Number: 11AC-783

Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel

Seats: 2

Date/Type of Last Inspection: December 6, 2020 Annual 

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1250 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection: 40.9 Hrs 

Engines: 1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time: 2252.17 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer: Continental

ELT: C91A installed, not activated 

Engine Model/Series: A65-8

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 65 Horsepower

Operator: On file

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KAXV, 913 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 11:55 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear

Visibility: 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: None

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots / 

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None

Wind Direction: 220° 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 20°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Wapakoneta, OH

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Destination: Bay City, MI (3CM) 

Type of Clearance: None

Departure Time: 

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Neil Armstrong Airport AXV 

Runway Surface Type:

Airport Elevation: 913 ft msl

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width:

VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries:

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 40.49355,-84.298 (est)