On April 23, 2007, a Champion 7ECA (registration N6341N) was involved in an aviation accident near Nashua, NH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudged altitude while maneuvering for a banner pickup, which resulted in the banner rope becoming entangled in the airplane's landing gear, and a hard landing, during the ensuing emergency off airport landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Champion 7ECA on approach to pick up a banner caught its left main landing gear on the lead rope, leading to a forced landing, hard touchdown, and nose-over.
Incident Overview
A pilot of a Champion 7ECA was on approach to retrieve a banner positioned on the grass adjacent to the runway. As the aircraft neared the banner poles, the pilot recognized that the airplane was too low. Before corrective action could be taken, the left main landing gear snagged the banner's lead rope.
Emergency Landing
Following the snag, the pilot reduced engine power and executed an off-airport emergency landing. The aircraft touched down hard, then nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the airplane prior to the event.
Final Remarks
The aircraft sustained damage from the hard landing and inversion. The pilot was the sole occupant; no injuries were reported in the source.