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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 28, 2003 · Champion 7GCBC · N9032L

Buffalo, SD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 28, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Buffalo, SD
Aircraft
Champion 7GCBC
Tail Number
N9032L
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI03LA178

The tail wheel equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during a high speed taxi. The instructor stated, "The aircraft started to go right, and I assisted the student in straightening it by applying a small amount of left brake. Then the aircraft started to swerve violently to the left, and I applied full right brake, which didn't stop the motion but may have kept the wing from hitting the ground. We made approximately a half circle, turning about 135 [degrees], managing to stay on the runway the whole time. ... We were using Runway 30 with a light east wind." The instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident and stated that the aircraft sustained damage to the airframe tubing during the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The instructor pilot's inadequate remedial action to the dual student's loss of aircraft control during high speed taxiing which lead to the inadvertent ground loop/swerve. A factor was the student not maintaining aircraft control.

Full Narrative

On July 28, 2003, about 1800 central daylight time, a Champion 7GCBC, N9032L, piloted by a commercial rated instructor pilot, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during a high speed taxi at Harding County Airport (9D2), near Buffalo, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructor and the dual student reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The instructor pilot reported: We were practicing fast taxi for directional control. The aircraft had slowed enough that the tail was on the ground but we were still going fairly fast (25-30 mph indicated). The aircraft started to go right, and I assisted the student in straightening it by applying a small amount of left brake. Then the aircraft started to swerve violently to the left, and I applied full right brake, which didn't stop the motion but may have kept the wing from hitting the ground. We made approximately a half circle, turning about 135 [degrees], managing to stay on the runway the whole time. The aircraft never left the ground. We were using Runway 30 with a light east wind. The instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident and stated that the aircraft sustained damage to the airframe tubing during the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:00 MDT
Nearest AirportHarding County (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length3900 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftChampion 7GCBC
Tail NumberN9032L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 22 · Third Class · None
Crew 2None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind70° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter29.96 inHg
Observation Time23:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data