Thursday, November 25, 2021

Loss of Control on Ground: Cessna 195, N4358V; accident occurred September 16, 2021 at Willow Run Airport (KYIP), Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan









Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

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

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

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Accident Number: CEN21LA422
Date and Time: September 16, 2021, 12:20 Local
Registration: N4358V
Aircraft: Cessna 195
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The commercial pilot reported that after landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he performed a “higher than normal speed taxi” to exit the runway to make way for incoming landing traffic. During the taxi, he lost directional control, which resulted in a ground loop. During the ground loop, the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer impacted the ground, sustaining substantial damage to both areas. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot taxied back to his hangar.

The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot additionally reported that he should have “taken the time necessary” to taxi the airplane safely off the runway and that he should not have “concerned myself with the fact that there was incoming traffic behind me.”

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 taxi, which resulted in a ground loop.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

History of Flight

Taxi-from runway Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Taxi-from runway Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 
Age: 66, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: November 20, 2020
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 4, 2021
Flight Time: 832 hours (Total, all aircraft), 100 hours (Total, this make and model), 684 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:
Cessna Registration: N4358V
Model/Series: 195 Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1948 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate:
Normal Serial Number: 7274
Landing Gear Type:
Tailwheel Seats: 5
Date/Type of Last Inspection: April 13, 2021 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3350 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4281.3 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company
ELT: C91 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: R-755B2
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 275 Horsepower
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: None 
Operator Designator Code: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KYIP,716 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 11:53 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 143°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 110° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ypsilanti, MI
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Ypsilanti, MI
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class D

Airport Information

Airport: WILLOW RUN YIP 
Runway Surface Type: Concrete
Airport Elevation: 715 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 05R/23L 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 7543 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 42.238195,-83.538268 (est)

2 comments:

  1. They say, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

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  2. So unfortunate to damage what is probably a gorgeous 195. Folks, when the tower clears you to land, in the absence of a LAHSO (Land And Hold Short Of) clearance, they clear you to land on the ENTIRE runway. Use every inch of it if you need it. Do not hurry or rush. If someone has to go around because you needed some extra time on the runway, that is NOT YOUR PROBLEM. If ATC is trying to get you to exit on a taxiway and you are too fast to exit or otherwise not ready to exit, the word is UNABLE. Let ATC handle it, that's what they get paid to do.

    I 100% get that ATC is often juggling a lot of balls when working aircraft of different capabilities at a busy airport and I agree that it would be unreasonable for every airplane to use the entire runway on every landing, but if you need more time to get slowed down - by all means, take it.

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