How many American Champion 7ACs are registered in the US?

201, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the American Champion 7AC built?

From about 1945 to 1960. Half of those registered today were built by 1946.

What engine does the American Champion 7AC have?

Most have the Continental A65 (80% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Continental C90, Continental A75.

How many accidents has the American Champion 7AC had?

12 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the American Champion 7AC have?

7 current ADs name the 7AC airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 10 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

American Champion 7AC

201 registered in the US, built from about 1945 to 1960, 2 seats, most with the Continental A65. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 201
Built: 1945 to 1960
Half built by: 1946
Seats: 2
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental A65

Engines installed

Continental A65160 aircraft (80%)
Continental C8515 aircraft (7%) · 4 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Continental C906 aircraft (3%) · 5 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Continental A756 aircraft (3%) · 1 ADs, 0 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

7 current ADs name the 7AC airframe, 1 with a repeat action; 1 more were superseded. Its engines carry 10 more. 4 equipment ADs name the model.

The ones that come back

ADs with a repeat action: an inspection or replacement at an interval, for as long as the AD applies. These are the airworthiness costs an owner keeps paying.

2000-25-02 R1American Champion Aircraft Corporation 7, 8, and 11 Series AirplanesAirplaneSupersedes 2000-25-02Repeat actionJun 6, 2001

Every AD for the American Champion 7AC

Accident record

12 accidents since 2008, 1 fatal (2 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 0 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control on ground5
Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)2
Loss of control in flight2
Aerodynamic stall/spin1
Collision during takeoff/land1
Loss of engine power (partial)1

Phase of flight

Landing5
Initial climb3
Maneuvering1
Approach1
Standing1

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2025-04-19	Estherwood, LA	Maneuvering: Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)	None	CEN25LA161
2025-03-18	Palmetto, FL	Initial climb: Loss of control in flight	Serious	ERA25LA147
2022-09-19	Bridgeton, NJ	Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin	Fatal	ERA22FA426
2016-06-16	Gorham, NH	Initial climb: Collision with terrain or object (non-CFIT)	None	ERA16LA220
2016-05-27	Groveland, CA	Landing: Loss of control on ground	Minor	GAA16CA311
2016-04-30	Keene, NH	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	ERA16LA174

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Filled in for a American Champion 7AC with the Continental A65: the engine maker's published overhaul time. Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD (1 on the airframe), find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
4 equipment ADs name the 7AC (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

Questions

How many American Champion 7ACs are registered in the US?: 201, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the American Champion 7AC built?: From about 1945 to 1960. Half of those registered today were built by 1946.
What engine does the American Champion 7AC have?: Most have the Continental A65 (80% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Continental C90, Continental A75.
How many accidents has the American Champion 7AC had?: 12 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the American Champion 7AC have?: 7 current ADs name the 7AC airframe, 1 of them with a repeat action, and 10 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.