N515TT Waco Classic Aircraft Corp. YMF 5C accident

NTSB LAX06CA195 · 2006-05-30 · Holbrook, AZ · near P14

Summary

The tail wheel equipped airplane ground looped during landing. The pilot reported that during touchdown, a gust of wind blew the tail to the right, turning the biplane to the left. The pilot failed to regain aircraft control and the right lower wing contacted the pavement. The airplane eventually departed the left side of the runway into sandy soil and nosed down. The pilot reported the wind as variable but predominantly from 120 degrees at 9 knots.

Full narrative

On May 30, 2006, at 1630 mountain standard time, a Waco Classic Aircraft Corp. YMF 5C airplane, N515TT, ground looped while landing on runway 3 at the Holbrook Municipal Airport (P14) Holbrook, Arizona. The airplane was registered to the private pilot, who operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the cross-country flight that originated from Kingman, Arizona, at 1500.

According to the pilot's written statement, he had established the tail wheel equipped biplane at 75 knots for the wheel landing. Upon touchdown a gust of wind "blew the tail to the right, initiating a turn to the left." The right lower wing contacted the pavement, and the airplane eventually departed the left side of the runway into sandy soil. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed down coming to rest on the propeller, left wing tips, and left main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage.

The pilot reported the wind as variable but predominantly from 120 degrees at 9 knots.

Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a ground loop. 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: NONE
Ceiling (ft): 0
Visibility (sm): 10
Wind direction: 120
Nearest airport: Holbrook Municipal
Distance from field: 0.0
Airport elevation: 5262

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N515TT	Waco Classic Aircraft Corp.	YMF 5C	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	260	Cruise
2	320	Cruise

Findings

Finding
20000
24539	cause
24537	cause
19200