No fatalities

27 Jul 2008: Bellanca 7GCBC — Sleeping Giant Flying Club — Helena, MT

Helena, MT, United States

On 27 Jul 2008, a Bellanca 7GCBC operated by Sleeping Giant Flying Club was involved in an aviation accident near Helena, MT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the pilot receiving instruction to adequately compensate for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control. Also causal was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a touch-and-go landing in a tailwheel airplane, a side drift caused the aircraft to veer left, leading to a collapsed main landing gear and wing strike.

Accident Overview

A private pilot, under the supervision of a certified flight instructor (CFI), was conducting a series of three-point touch-and-go landings in a tail wheel-equipped airplane when the accident occurred. The CFI reported that during one landing on runway 09, the airplane touched down with a "side drift" while the front-seat private pilot was at the controls. Following touchdown, the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline.

Loss of Control

The CFI assumed control of the airplane in an attempt to regain directional control. During this maneuver, the airplane swerved, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. Subsequently, the left wing contacted the runway surface, resulting in structural damage to the aircraft.

Weather Conditions

The CFI reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 050 degrees at 7 knots. No other weather information was provided.

Conclusion

The accident involved a loss of directional control during a touch-and-go landing, leading to gear collapse and wing damage. The CFI's report indicates the presence of a side drift prior to touchdown. No injuries were reported in the source, and no causal factors were explicitly stated.

Contributing factors

Causes

Crosswind correction — Not attained/maintainedDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedInstructor/check pilot

Other contributing factors

CrosswindCapability exceeded