Loss of Control on Ground: BABE-E, N142NV; accident occurred August 02, 2018 at Delta County Airport (KESC), Escanaba, Michigan

Airplane in Hangar after Recovery. 

Damaged Tail Wheel Steering Chain.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids, Michigan

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

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

http://registry.faa.gov/N142NV

Location: Escanaba, MI
Accident Number:CEN18LA307 
Date & Time: 08/02/2018, 1900 EDT
Registration: N142NV
Aircraft: Gerald Dan Coppock Bade-E
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries:1 None 
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On August 02, 2018, about 1900 eastern daylight time, a Gerald Dan Coppock BABE-E homebuilt experimental airplane, N142NV, registered to the pilot/builder, sustained substantial damage during a runway excursion following a loss of directional control while landing at the Delta County Airport (ESC), Escanaba, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from ESC about 1830.

According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 01 at ESC and the airplane touched down normally. During the rollout, the airplane veered to the left once the tailwheel contacted the runway. Both wingtips contacted the runway surface and the airplane ground-looped. The forward section of the fuselage was buckled upward and substantially damaged. The airplane came to rest, nose down and the pilot exited the airplane. According to ESC METAR weather, reported winds about the time of the accident were 330 at 5 knots.

Inspection of the airplane after the accident revealed that the right steering cable chain was broken and hanging from the tailwheel. It could not be determined if the cable break was caused prior to or during the accident sequence. NTSB Form 6120 was not received from the pilot for additional information. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Sport Pilot
Age: 68, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 1400 hours (Total, all aircraft), 55 hours (Total, this make and model), 15 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Gerald Dan Coppock
Registration: N142NV
Model/Series: Babe-E
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2014
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: GDC1
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/02/2017, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1150 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:  Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 55 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: A80
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 80 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ESC, 609 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1856 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:N/A / N/A 
Altimeter Setting: 29.99 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Escanaba, MI (ESC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Escanaba, MI (ESC)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1830 EST
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Delta County Airport (ESC)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 609 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 1
IFR Approach:None 
Runway Length/Width: 5016 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

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: 45.722778, -87.093611 (est)