Champion Citabria 7ECA
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 104.4; Flight Crew Type 42.7
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
Landing in an Aeronca champ with a 5-6 knot cross wind. Touched wheels at 70 mph. Lifted off the grass to settle into a three point attitude. Dropped from about two feet. Less than in past landings. As soon as all three wheels touched down; it felt like the left brake was locked. The cross wind was from the left. I used full aileron and rudder deflection to the right. The plane was still veering to the left. I then used full right brake. Scary at that speed. Even with full right brake; the plane was still veering to the left. When the plane had turned 90 Degrees to the left; there was a boat in the current path; I released right pressure on the rudder. The tail came around quickly at that point. The wings were level until the plane stopped completely. With the plane completely stopped; pointing toward the field; I added a little power to taxi back on the runway. At this point; the left gear gave way in slow motion. The left wing tip slowly came to a rest on the ground. The Ground loop circle was about 75-100 FT diameter. It could have been pilot error but it doesn't sound like a normal ground loop. The left gear collapsed completely. In a normal ground loop; I think the outside gear would collapse; not the inside. The right wing never came close to the ground. I think the oleo gear attachment point broke; causing the large diameter slow acting ground loop.
Aeronca Champ pilot experiences a brake and gear anomaly during landing resulting in a locked left brake and a ground loop to the left. After the aircraft is stopped an attempt to taxi on to the runway results in the left gear failing in slow motion.