Friday, April 22, 2022

Loss of Control on Ground: Piper J3C-65, N9721Y; accident occurred April 21, 2022 at Hartford Municipal Airport (KHXF), Washington County, Wisconsin






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; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://registry.faa.gov/N9721Y

Location: Hartford, Wisconsin
Accident Number: CEN22LA182
Date and Time: April 21, 2022, 13:00 Local 
Registration: N9721Y
Aircraft: PIPER-HARRIS J3C-65 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground 
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that the airplane was slowed to taxi speed after a full stop landing. While the flight instructor taxied toward the ramp during gusty wind conditions, the left wing raised up and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and both wing struts sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight instructor lost control of the airplane while taxiing in gusty wind conditions.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot
Environmental issues High wind - Contributed to outcome
Aircraft Crosswind correction - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

History of Flight

Taxi-from runway Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Taxi-from runway Nose over/nose down

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor; Private
Age: 37, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: September 14, 2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 8, 2021
Flight Time: 699 hours (Total, all aircraft), 197 hours (Total, this make and model), 625 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 57 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private 
Age: 55,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: March 14, 2022
Flight Time: 344 hours (Total, all aircraft), 14 hours (Total, this make and model), 180 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER-HARRIS 
Registration: N9721Y
Model/Series: J3C-65 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1938
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 2451
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 3, 2022 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1220 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4927 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: C85
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 85
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: KETB,884 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 12:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 70°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 22 knots / 35 knots 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: Unknown / Unknown
Wind Direction: 270° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 0°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hartford, WI (HXF) 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Hartford, WI (HXF)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 11:45 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Hartford Municipal Airport HXF
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1070 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 27
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3401 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.350047,-88.390241(est)


Location: Hartford, Wisconsin
Accident Number: CEN22LA182
Date and Time: April 21, 2022, 13:00 Local 
Registration: N9721Y
Aircraft: PIPER-HARRIS J3C-65
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER-HARRIS 
Registration: N9721Y
Model/Series: J3C-65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KETB,884 ft msl
Observation Time: 12:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C /0°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 22 knots / 35 knots, 270°
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Hartford, WI (HXF)
Destination: Hartford, WI (HXF)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 43.350047,-88.390241 (est)

Aircraft taxiing, wind gust lifted left wing, rotated onto its nose and flipped over.  

Date: 21-APR-22
Time: 18:00:00Z
Regis#: N9721Y
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 91
City: HARTFORD
State: WISCONSIN

No comments:

Post a Comment