NTSB Identification: ERA12CA278
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, April 12, 2012 in West Palm Beach, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/15/2012
Aircraft: PIPER PA-18A, registration: N12003
Injuries: 1 Minor,1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot stated that when he returned to the airport after a local flight, he elected to land on the turf runway, which intersected an asphalt runway. He said he touched down on the main landing gear “fairly long” on the first portion of the turf runway at a speed of about 60 mph. The pilot delayed lowering the tailwheel until the airplane was crossing the asphalt surface and then lowered the tailwheel firmly to the ground. The airplane began to veer left, and the pilot applied full right rudder and a “slight amount” of right brake to regain directional control. When the airplane transitioned from the asphalt surface to the turf runway, it abruptly nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, incurring substantial damage to the rudder. An examination of the runway’s asphalt to turf transition section revealed that the airplane’s main landing gear tires dug into the turf as it left the slightly higher asphalt. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the transition from asphalt to turf during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
The pilot stated that upon returning to the airport from a local flight, he elected to land on the grass turf runway, which had an asphalt runway intersection within the first quarter of its length. His landing speed was about 60 mph, the airplane touched down long on the first portion of the grass turf. The pilot held off lowering the tail wheel initially but then lowered it firmly onto the ground. During the landing roll on the asphalt portion, the airplane began to arc to the left, the pilot applied full right rudder and then eased on a “slight amount” of right brake. As the airplane departed the asphalt section, it abruptly nosed over, the propeller struck the ground and the airplane came to rest inverted on the grass turf runway, incurring substantial damage to the vertical section and rudder. An inspection of the runway’s asphalt to grass turf transition section revealed that the airplane’s main landing gear tires dug into the turf as it left the slightly higher asphalt. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were noted that would have precluded normal operation.
A shot of the plane that landed upside down at North Palm Beach County General Aviation airport.
WEST PALM BEACH — Federal Aviation Administration investigators are looking into what caused a plane to land upside down this afternoon at North Palm Beach County General Aviation airport.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the airport at 11300 Aviation Boulevard, on Bee Line Highway north of Northlake Boulevard and west of Florida's Turnpike, at 2:35 p.m.
The plane, a Piper PA18, landed on a grassy area near the runway and flipped over, said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.
The two people in the plane were not injured and were walking by the time crews arrived at the scene, said Palm Beach County Sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera.
The plane is registered to Murray Company, LLC which is based out of North Palm Beach.
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