Pilot Debrief

AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCAA near Bedminster, NJ — 2012-03-02

Final reportERA12CA204
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Date
2012-03-02
Location
Bedminster, NJ, USA
Airport
SMQ
Aircraft
AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCAA
Registration
N518F
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

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

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor stated that he and the pilot receiving instruction were practicing traffic pattern work and had performed two simulated engine failures without incident before the accident. The flight instructor initiated a third simulated engine failure at a higher altitude than the previous two and suggested the pilot receiving instruction perform S-turns to lose altitude. During the maneuver, the airplane descended too low to complete a power-off landing to the runway, and the flight instructor told the pilot receiving instruction to perform a go-around. The flight instructor also reached for the throttle to add full power for the go-around, but the airplane abruptly pitched down and impacted the ground, substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the pitch trim control was in the full forward (nose-down) position.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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