Saturday, December 04, 2021

Loss of Control on Ground: Aeronca 7AC, N84318; accident occurred July 15, 2021 at Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (KRHI), Wisconsin





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; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin 
Accident Number: CEN21LA324
Date and Time: July 15, 2021, 17:00 Local 
Registration: N84318
Aircraft: Aeronca 7AC
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground 
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The flight instructor stated that the purpose of the flight was for the sport pilot, who had not flown in several years, to accrue flight time for currency requirements. They completed flight maneuvers in the local area and returned for landing practice. During the first landing roll, the airplane drifted slightly to the right and the pilot corrected with left rudder input. The airplane veered hard left and struck a runway sign with the right wingtip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. After the accident an examination of the tailwheel confirmed that the tailwheel was operating normally and there were no issues noted.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Findings

Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Student/instructed pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Landing-landing roll Attempted remediation/recovery
Landing-landing roll Runway excursion

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 58, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations Last FAA Medical Exam: February 18, 2021
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 30, 2020
Flight Time: 7969 hours (Total, all aircraft), 75 hours (Total, this make and model), 5804 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 142 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 40 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Sport Pilot
Age: 47, 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: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: None None 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 50 hours (Total, all aircraft), 10 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Aeronca 
Registration: N84318
Model/Series: 7AC
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 7AC-3018
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 6, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3169 Hrs as of last inspection 
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: C91 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: A75-8
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 75 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: KRHI, 1624 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 16:53 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 277°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 6000 ft AGL
Visibility:  10 miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 340°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 30.03 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C / 9°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Rhinelander, WI (RHI) 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Rhinelander, WI 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 16:15 Local 
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: RHINELANDER-ONEIDA COUNTY RHI
Runway Surface Type: Concrete
Airport Elevation: 1623 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 09/27
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
6799 ft / 150 ft VFR 
Approach/Landing: Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 45.630271,-89.470576

2 comments:

  1. Someone's getting themselves a new set of metal spars!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I few landings at Crandon would have been helpful...

    ReplyDelete