CircumFlightN2540F American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA accident
NTSB GAA17CA115 · 2017-01-16 · Bainbridge, GA · near BGE
Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant
Summary
The solo student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he had completed five touch-and-go landings and maneuvers in the local area before returning for a full-stop landing. While on final approach about 50 ft above ground, he reduced throttle to idle and allowed the airspeed to slow, and the left wing dropped abruptly. The left main landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane veered to the left into grass, and it then nosed over. The left wing lift strut and the rudder sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report.
Full narrative
The solo student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he had completed five touch-and-go landings and maneuvers in the local area before returning for a full stop landing. He reported that while on final approach about 50 feet above ground, he reduced throttle to idle, allowed the airspeed to slow, and the left wing dropped abruptly. The left main landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane veered to the left into grass, and nosed over.
The left wing lift strut and the rudder sustained substantial damage.
The student pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The student pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report.
Probable cause
The student pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and his subsequent loss of directional control after touchdown. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.
Circumstances
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather conditions
- Visual Meteorological Cond
- Light condition
- Day
- Sky condition
- BKN
- Ceiling (ft)
- 6000
- Visibility (sm)
- 10
- Wind direction
- 130
- Wind speed (kt)
- 3
- Temperature (F)
- 61
- Nearest airport
- DECATUR COUNTY INDUSTRIAL AIR
- Distance from field
- 0.0
- Airport elevation
- 141
Aircraft
| Registration | Make | Model | Damage | FAR part |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N2540F | AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT | 7GCAA | SUBS | 091 |
Sequence of events
| # | Occurrence | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Landing-flare/touchdown Aerodynamic stall/spin defining | Cruise |
| 2 | Landing-flare/touchdown Abnormal runway contact | Cruise |
| 3 | Landing-landing roll Loss of control on ground | Cruise |
| 4 | Landing-landing roll Runway excursion | Cruise |
| 5 | Landing-landing roll Nose over/nose down | Cruise |
| 6 | Landing-landing roll Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) | Cruise |