On June 24, 2002, an American Champion (acac) 8KCAB (registration N83DH) was involved in an aviation accident near Giddings, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control during the landing rollout. A contributing factor was the subsequent inadvertent ground loop of the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing on runway 17, the aircraft suddenly veered hard right and exited the runway. The left main axle support failed, the left main wheel separated, and the airplane came to rest on its left wing with damage to the wing and elevator.
Incident Description
According to the pilot, the airplane was landing on runway 17 when it suddenly veered "hard" to the right and subsequently exited the runway. The left main axle support structure failed, causing the left main wheel to separate from the aircraft. The left strut dug into the ground, and the airplane came to rest on its left wing.
Damage Assessment
Post-accident inspection revealed that the outer six feet of the left wing was bent upward approximately 35 degrees. Additionally, the left side of the elevator was bent. No other damage was reported.
Wind Conditions
The pilot estimated the wind at the time of the accident to be from 240 degrees at 3 to 5 knots.