Thursday, May 28, 2020

Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, N530AK: Accidents occurred November 23, 2019 and February 10, 2020 at Kerrville Municipal Airport (KERV), Texas -and- Accident occurred May 31, 2019 at Sparta Community Airport - Hunter Field (KSAR), Randolph County, Illinois









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

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

https://registry.faa.gov/N530AK

Location: Kerrville, TX
Accident Number: CEN20CA033
Date & Time: 11/23/2019, 1100 CST
Registration:N530AK 
Aircraft: PIPER PA18
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

The private pilot was on a cross-country flight with one passenger. He stated that based on the wind reported by his destination airport's Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), he decided to make a conventional, full-stall, 3-point landing. He said he crossed mid-field and entered a left downwind for runway 30. The turn to base and final were normal. When the airplane was about a foot off the runway at stall speed, "an unexpected" wind gust pushed the airplane to the left. The left main landing gear contacted the runway, and the airplane drifted to the right. The left shock absorber broke, and the airplane swerved to the right. The tailwheel unlocked and the airplane ground looped. Damage included a bent left wing and left main landing gear. The pilot did not indicate the wind direction but said it was at 7 knots. AWOS reported that the wind was calm. The pilot did not indicate that there were any mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. He noted that the destination airport "has a reputation for gusty wind conditions . . . the gust caught me in a landing configuration where I was unable to maintain directional control at touchdown." The pilot stated that once the tailwheel turns about 15 to 20 degrees, it unlocks automatically and the tailwheel swivels. When the airplane began its turn and reached the point where the tailwheel unlocked, there is no tailwheel steering. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/13/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/24/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 2160 hours (Total, all aircraft), 53 hours (Total, this make and model), 1750 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 108 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 75 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N530AK
Model/Series:PA18 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18-4385
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/30/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4017 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 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: ERV, 1817 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1050 CST
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.27 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Conroe, TX (CXO)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Kerrville, TX (ERV)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 0900 CST
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Kerrville Municipal (ERV)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation:1617 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 30
IFR Approach:None 
Runway Length/Width: 6004 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 29.976667, -99.085556 (est)

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas 

February 10, 2020:  Aircraft experienced a gust of wind on landing and lost control. 

Date: 10-FEB-20
Time: 20:50:00Z
Regis#: N530AK
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA18
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: KERRVILLE
State: TEXAS

May 31, 2019
View of damage to the right wing.
Federal Aviation Administration


Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois

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


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

Location: Sparta, IL
Accident Number: GAA19CA298
Date & Time: 05/31/2019, 1030 CDT
Registration: N530AK
Aircraft: Piper PA18
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that the airplane was equipped with 26-inch tundra tires, and that he performed a landing on the asphalt runway. The airplane touched down and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake but overcorrected the airplane's direction to the left. Subsequently, the airplane ground-looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/13/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/24/2019
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 2034 hours (Total, all aircraft), 10 hours (Total, this make and model), 1919 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 95 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 27 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N530AK
Model/Series: PA18 150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18-4385
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/30/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1750 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3187 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Amateur/Experimental
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: Unknown
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 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: KSAR, 538 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1535 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 290°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 300°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Sparta, IL (SAR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sparta, IL (SAR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0715 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Sparta Community-Hunter Field (SAR)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 537 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 36
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4002 ft / 75 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: 38.148889, -89.698611 (est)

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