No fatalities

18 Mar 2018: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC NO SERIES — Ontario, OR

Ontario, OR, United States

On 18 Mar 2018, an AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC NO SERIES was involved in an aviation accident near Ontario, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during landing, in cross wind conditions. 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

A flight instructor lost directional control after a bounced crosswind landing in a tailwheel airplane, causing the aircraft to exit the runway. The right main landing gear separated and the front spar sustained substantial damage.

Accident Summary

A flight instructor reported that, during the final landing of the day in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, a bounce occurred while landing in crosswind conditions. The aircraft subsequently veered to the right and exited the runway, resulting in damage to the right main landing gear and the front spar.

Sequence of Events

According to the instructor, the airplane bounced during the landing. As the aircraft bounced, it rolled to the right, and the right main landing gear touched down. After both main landing gear were on the runway, the airplane turned sharply to the right, and the instructor lost directional control. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway, at which point the right main landing gear spindle and tire separated from the aircraft. The airplane came to rest off the runway.

Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the front spar. The right main landing gear spindle and tire separated from the aircraft during the runway excursion.

Additional Information

The flight instructor stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The automated weather observation system at the airport reported, around the time of the accident, wind from 210° at 8 knots. The instructor had landed on runway 33.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedInstructor/check pilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation