N68564Bellanca 7GCBC · 1972

On August 19, 2012, about 1630 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N68564, nosed over on landing at Sidney Municipal Airport (KSNY), Sidney, Nebraska. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The cross-country flight originated from the Hanging L Ranch Airstrip, Mullen, Nebraska, at 1510.

According to the pilot's accident report, he made a normal landing on runway 02 (4,700 ft. x 75 ft., turf) in light and variable winds. As the airplane slowed, it started turning to the right and the pilot applied left rudder and brake to prevent a ground loop. The tail came up, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was crushed.

The pilot said that after the accident, while the airplane was still upside down, he rotated the tires. The left tire turned freely but the right tire dragged and would only turn with pressure. Asked if he had any safety recommendations, the pilot wrote that extra practice in the use of brakes and rudder might help to manage the double puck, big tires, and extended landing gear on this airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration contacted the Sidney Airport manager, also a licensed A&P (airframe and powerplant) mechanic, to determine the condition of the brake system. He reported that the wheels both spun normally prior to putting the aircraft back on it's landing gear. In addition, police officers on the scene also spun the wheels and found no issues. The airport manager also stated that the aircraft was towed to a hanger and it rolled normally. He found no indication of a mechanical failure of the wheels or brake system.