Accident Details
On December 11, 2010, at about 0800 eastern standard time, an Aeronca 7CCM, registration N2053E, was substantially damaged during a landing at Skyhaven Airport (DAW) in Rochester, New Hampshire. The airplane was operated by Rochester Aviation. The certificated student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight, which originated about 0730. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Instructor Account
The flight instructor reported that during the first three landings on runway 33, with the student pilot at the controls and in calm winds, the airplane "...snapped a little left." Each time, a correction was made to maintain directional control. On the fourth landing attempt, the airplane snapped left again. The tailwheel lifted momentarily off the runway surface. When the tailwheel came back down, the airplane "shot hard left." Although the flight instructor was able to regain some directional control, the airplane departed the runway surface. The airplane then struck the surface-mounted precision approach path indicator (PAPI) unit and came to a stop.
Examination
An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The horizontal stabilizer and empennage sustained structural damage from the collision with the PAPI unit. During a flight control continuity check, the control surfaces moved normally. When the tailwheel was examined, the tailwheel unlocked easily when shaken manually. The student pilot had logged about 2.1 hours of flight time at the time of the accident.
Weather
Weather recorded at DAW at 1252 included winds calm, visibility 10 statute miles, sky overcast at 4,400 feet, temperature -3 degrees C, dew point -9 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.21 inches Hg.