Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Nashville, Tennessee
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Fayetteville, Tennessee
Accident Number: ERA20CA185
Date & Time: May 11, 2020, 19:00 UTC
Registration: N4454A
Aircraft: Piper PA22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was performing touch and go landings. On his third landing, he knew there was a crosswind from his left side, so he touched down with the left main landing gear first. When the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane started to veer off to the left, so he corrected with right rudder and the airplane pulled hard to the right. The pilot then saw a ditch on the right side of the runway, so he applied "hard left rudder" to purposefully put the airplane into a ground loop so the airplane would not go off the runway and into the ditch. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear fractured and folded under the fuselage.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear tube fractured, and that the fracture surfaces did not display corrosion. The right wing rear spar and the lower longeron were substantially damaged. Examination of the flight controls and brakes showed no evidence of any preaccident anomalies.
At the time of the accident a left crosswind component of between 9 and 17 knots prevailed.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Environmental issues Crosswind - Effect on operation
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing-landing roll Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Landing-landing roll Landing gear collapse
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
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 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 29, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 5, 2019
Flight Time: 234 hours (Total, all aircraft), 42 hours (Total, this make and model), 166 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 36 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N4454A
Model/Series: PA22 150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 22-3787
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: February 19, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2144.4 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 150 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: FYM
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 18:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 17 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.25 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fayetteville, TN (FYM)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Fayetteville, TN (FYM)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 18:00 UTC
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: Fayetteville Muni FYM
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 983 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 02
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5900 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and go
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 35.060554,-86.563888(est)
When using right stick to lower the right wheel when landing with a left crosswind, unless one quickly puts the left stick back in, the plane will tend to veer left and start to ground loop, often bending/breaking the right gear. The up aileron with the left stick not only helps to keep the left wing down, the right aileron, extending down into undisturbed airflow will be adding drag, the leverage of which helps to prevent the plane from veering left.
ReplyDeleteThis is why the old timers always said, "Steer for the ditch!"
Hmmm.... I’m an old timer high time Taildragger pilot. Never heard anyone say ‘steer toward the ditch’. Guess you’re never too old to learn.
ReplyDeleteFlying since age 17 for 68 years, Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, Et, I never heard that said either.
DeleteI'm with you both - started at 18 in high school some 34 years ago and never heard that for for tricycles OR tail draggers.
Delete