Friday, May 04, 2018

Cessna A185E, N19EC: Accidents occurred December 14, 2018 and October 24, 2017 at Tacoma Narrows Airport (KTIW), Pierce County, Washington

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle, Washington

Blue Skies Aviation LLC


https://registry.faa.gov/N19EC

NTSB Identification: GAA19CA100
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, December 14, 2018 in Tacoma, WA
Aircraft: Cessna A185, registration: N19EC

NTSB investigators will use data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator, and will not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

Lost control, wingtip struck ground and veered off the runway into the grass.

Date: 14-DEC-18
Time: 16:55:00Z
Regis#: N19EC
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: A185E
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: TACOMA
State: WASHINGTON

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle, Washington

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Location: Tacoma, WA
Accident Number: GAA18CA023
Date & Time: 10/24/2017, 1410 PST
Registration: N19EC
Aircraft: CESSNA A185
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped, high-performance airplane, he performed a three-point landing about 70 mph. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot reported that he applied left rudder and left aileron to keep the airplane on the runway. However, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and then ground looped to the right, and the left wing and left elevator struck the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar, ribs, aileron, and the left elevator.

The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 010° at 7 knots.

The pilot reported that the valve stem from the left main landing gear tire failed, causing the loss of control. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Findings

Aircraft
Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll
Abnormal runway contact
Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Runway excursion
Attempted remediation/recovery 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/20/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/08/2015
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1434 hours (Total, all aircraft), 75 hours (Total, this make and model), 1400 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N19EC
Model/Series: A185 E
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 185-1306
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/04/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3300 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3356.66 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Teledyne Continental
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-520-D
Registered Owner: BLUE SKIES AVIATION LLC
Rated Power: 300 hp
Operator: BLUE SKIES AVIATION LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KTIW, 315 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2053 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 92°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 10°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.38 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Tacoma, WA (TIW)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Tacoma, WA (TIW)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1320 PST
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: TACOMA NARROWS (TIW)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 294 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5002 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Straight-in 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  47.268056, -122.578056 (est)

4 comments:

  1. Old pilots and tail draggers killing their planes/pax. It seems to be a trend lately.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great comment above - really useful and as tends to be on the internet not even true of relevant - sarcasm. No injuries. "The pilot reported that the valve stem from the left main landing gear tire failed causing the loss of control."

    You know I like this blog - but I really dislike the level of discourse on the comments section. Hardly ever are the comments helpful. Why not disable the feature?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting.

    Now let's see what Cirrus does about its cash burn problem.

    Selling and leasing back airplanes to raise cash is not a long term business plan. Many found that out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I’m not seeing how a flat tire on the left side would cause a ground loop to the right, maybe I’m missing something, the pilot reported he applied left rudder in response to the aircraft veering right (uncontrolled) but a flat on the left would assuredly cause more drag to the left and result in a turn to the left. Something else seems to be a cause. Winds reported 20-degrees off centerline at an almost negligible or at least very manageable 7 knots. Pilots report sounds questionable.

    ReplyDelete