Bellanca 7ECA accident near Oxnard, California, December 27, 2003
On December 27, 2003 at about 5:24 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N53879, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oxnard, California (Oxnard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pin that secured the right rudder pedal to the brake cylinder arm due to improper installation of the pin. Also causal was the manufacturer's confusing maintenance instructions regarding the installation of the right rudder pedal pin and cotter key.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2003 · about 5:24 pm local time
- Place
- Oxnard, California · Oxnard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N53879 · no longer on the register · serial 1136-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane ground looped during the landing roll. After touchdown, the pilot applied right rudder and the pedal became stuck in a near full forward position. The pilot was then unable to maintain directional control and the airplane turned approximately 270 degrees on the runway and came to rest. A post accident inspection revealed that the pin that secured the right rudder pedal to the brake cylinder arm was missing. There was also evidence of aluminum shavings at the pin attachment point. An identical problem was discovered by the operator on the sister ship to the accident airplane. The pin on the sister ship was changed a few weeks before the accident. The operator intended to examine the rudder pedal pins on the accident airplane in the next scheduled maintenance period. The manufacturer of the airplane indicated that the pin can be installed either outboard or inboard of the cotter key. As depicted in Figure 26 of the Parts Manual, the installation of the pin is depicted as inboard of the cotter key. In this model of the airplane, the battery is located in the forward section of the fuselage and a structural angle brace is installed for support. On the right pedal of the forward seat, the clearance between the pin and the angle brace is reduced with the angle brace in the design location if the pin is installed inboard of the cotter key. If the pin is installed outboard of the cotter key, it allows for greater clearance between the pin and the angle brace.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 342 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 298 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,551 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 19, 2003; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 4:45 pm
- Destination: KOXR Oxnard CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,950 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from oxr
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N53879 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.