N518F

Substantial
Serious

AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCAAS/N: 5182009

Accident Details

Date
Friday, March 2, 2012
NTSB Number
ERA12CA204
Location
Bedminster, NJ
Event ID
20120303X71045
Coordinates
40.626945, -74.675277
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot receiving instruction’s inadvertent movement of the pitch trim control to the nose-down position while attempting a go-around.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N518F
Make
AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT
Serial Number
5182009
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2009
Model / ICAO
7GCAACH7B
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
CINCO DE FLYO LLC
Address
39 HARRY RD
Status
Deregistered
City
BRIDGEWATER
State / Zip Code
NJ 08807-3166
Country
United States

Analysis

In a written statement, the flight instructor stated that he and the pilot were practicing traffic pattern work and had performed two simulated engine failures prior to the accident. The instructor initiated a third simulated engine failure at a higher altitude than the previous two, and he suggested the pilot perform S-turns to lose altitude. While completing the turns to dissipate altitude, the airplane descended too low to complete a power-off landing to the runway. The instructor called for a go-around and attempted to add power, but the airplane pitched down and impacted the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The flight instructor reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor reported that he has had students mistake the pitch trim control for the throttle on past flights and after the accident they found the trim control pushed full forward into the nose down position.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA12CA204