Merritt Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Merritt Island, Florida 32952
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 11:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was practicing landings when the airplane veered right after touchdown. The pilot corrected with left rudder and the airplane initially corrected left; however, the right main landing gear collapsed and it then veered sharply right against the application of full left brake and rudder. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in a creek. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right main landing gear attachment point appeared rusty. Metallurgical examination revealed that the front portion of the right main landing gear attachment bracket displayed buckling, bending, cracks on the tension side of the bend, and displacement of material around the hole, consistent with an overload event. Minor surface corrosion pitting was observed on what was left of the outboard portion of the bracket.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a main landing gear collapse and subsequent runway excursion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Merritt Island
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32952
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 282030N
Event Location Longitude 0804108W
Event Location Airport Merritt Island Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID COI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID COF
Elevation of weather observation facility 8
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28503
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 6 2011 11:03AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82934
NTSB Number ERA11LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AERONCA
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-1584
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 2758
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BLOCK RANDALL L
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MERRITT ISLAND
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32953-3206
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BLOCK RANDALL L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MERRITT ISLAND
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32953-3206
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code COI
Departure City Merritt Island
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code COI
Destination City Merritt Island
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2011 3:28PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 3601
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --