N7ZF Maule M-7-260 accident

NTSB LAX02LA112 · 2002-03-15 · Montague, CA · near SIY

Summary

The tail wheel equipped airplane ground looped during the landing roll. According to the pilot, the landing was a three point on runway 17, with no apparent adverse wind conditions or turbulence. The airplane rolled straight ahead for approximately 200 feet and then commenced an immediate uncommanded left turn, which the pilot said was not correctable with brake or rudder. The airplane ultimately ground looped to the left resulting in considerable damage to the airplane. The reported winds at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 310 degrees at 5 knots.

Full narrative

On March 15, 2002, at 1320 Pacific standard time, a Maule M-7-260, N7ZF, ground looped during landing at Siskiyou County Airport, Montague, California. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91 and departed from Montague-Yreka Rohrer Airport at 1245. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 17. He said the approach was normal, in the slot, and stabilized with no drift correction. The landing was three point, on the runway numbers, with no apparent adverse wind conditions or turbulence. The airplane rolled out straight ahead for approximately 200 feet, then commenced an immediate uncommanded left turn, which was not correctable with brake or rudder, and a ground loop resulted.

The pilot reported that he accident could have been prevented by deactivation of the parking brake system, which he suspects was the reason why the airplane swerved during the landing. According to the pilot, as he learned from a maintenance facility, the deactivation could be done by "two separate and distinct brake pedal checks during landing checklist run, to check for hard pedal or pedals." He also stated that the ground loop was not pilot induced, nor was it likely that it was caused by erratic winds or gusts.

The reported winds at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 310 degrees at 5 knots.

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type: Accident
Highest injury: None
Weather conditions: Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition: Day
Sky condition: OVC
Ceiling (ft): 6500
Visibility (sm): 10
Wind direction: 310
Wind speed (kt): 5
Temperature (F): 45
Nearest airport: Siskiyou
Distance from field: 0.0

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N7ZF	Maule	M-7-260	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	260	Cruise
2	320	Cruise

Findings

Finding
20000
20000
24026	cause
24539	cause
24537
19200