Champion 7AC N83578

Summary

On 16 June 2016 at about 12:55 local time, a Champion 7AC registered N83578 was involved in an accident near Gorham, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were 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

16 June 2016 at 12:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Gorham, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Gorham (2G8)

Coordinates

44.3950, -71.2044

Aircraft

Champion 7AC

Registration

N83578

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gorham → Bar Harbor

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA220

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff after the airplane’s initial failure to climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane’s preflight inspection, runup, and takeoff roll were normal. He stated that, after becoming airborne, the airplane settled back to the runway, and he attempted to climb the airplane again but was unsuccessful. On the third attempt, the airplane lifted off but never achieved more than 20 ft of altitude. It then impacted trees about 90 ft beyond the departure end of the runway. The wooden propeller exhibited signs of rotational damage, indicating it was likely under some power; there was leading edge damage, and the outboard section of the propeller blades were splintered. The airplane was under gross weight at departure. Although a postaccident examination of the engine revealed that one of the cylinders indicated low compression, the examination was not accomplished with oversight of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector; a follow-up examination was not possible. Weather at the time of the accident was not conducive to the formation of carburetor ice. It is likely that the engine experienced a partial loss of power during the takeoff roll and subsequent attempted climb; however, the reason for the reduction of engine power and subsequent airplane performance could not be determined. In addition, instead of making repeated attempts to climb, the pilot should have aborted the takeoff at the first sign that the airplane would not climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.