Aeronca 7EC N2349E

Summary

On 11 March 2011 at about 02:00 local time, a Aeronca 7EC registered N2349E was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 March 2011 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear City, California, United States

Nearest airport

Big Bear City (L35)

Coordinates

34.2639, -116.8561

Aircraft

Aeronca 7EC

Registration

N2349E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big Bear City → Big Bear City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11CA157

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper maintenance, which resulted in a wheel separating from the airplane during takeoff, and the airplane's subsequent nose over during the landing rollout.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he removed the left main landing gear wheel because its tire had a slow air leak. The pilot, who held a Federal Aviation Administration issued airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate, replaced the tube and reinstalled the wheel. He indicated that when performing this maintenance, he did not properly secure the wheel’s retaining nut with a cotter pin. During the takeoff roll, the attachment nut unscrewed and the wheel separated from the axle and airplane. The pilot flew around the area for about 30 minutes in an effort to burn off fuel. Upon landing, the airplane veered left off the runway and nosed over, breaking wing ribs and a lift strut.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.