N793L

Substantial
None

AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7ECAS/N: 1409-2014

Accident Details

Date
Friday, April 12, 2024
NTSB Number
CEN24LA162
Location
Longview, TX
Event ID
20240417194113
Coordinates
32.392347, -94.707189
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT
Serial Number
1409-2014
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2014
Model / ICAO
7ECACH7B
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
7ECA

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY
Address
PO BOX 7001
City
LONGVIEW
State / Zip Code
TX 75607-7001
Country
United States

Analysis

On April 12th, 2024, about 0810 central daylight time, an American Champion 7ECA airplane, N793L, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at the East Texas Regional Airport (KGGG), Longview, Texas. The two pilots were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91instructional flight.

The pilot reported that while taxiing from the runway, the rudder felt stiff. The flight instructor commanded full right rudder and heard a audible “pop” with a simultaneous decrease in pedal resistance. The pilot’s were able to taxi the airplane to park without further incident.

An initial examination of the rudder revealed that the lower hinge fractured from the vertical spar tube, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder.

The rudder and all attaching hardware were retained for an examination at a later date.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN24LA162