What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 30, 2010 CFI 2112045, earl kessler, was conducting a flight check for a tail wheel endorsement in Minden, NV (mev). After touchdown on runway 34, the aircraft started into a left turn. Mr. Kessler then took control of the aircraft. The individual under instruction is a commercial rated pilot. The aircraft continued in a left turn and ground looped. As the aircraft approached the left side of the runway, skidding sideways and pointing in the opposite direction of landing, the left landing gear broke off. The aircraft continued about 10 more feet riding up on top of the severed gear strut and wheel and then came to rest slamming the left outer wing onto the asphalt sustaining substantial damage. Examination of the landing gear reveals that it is that of a Cessna 180 and not that of a Cessna 170A. Proper paper work installing this gear was found. Also noted was evidence of old cracks starting at the shear point on both leading and trailing edges of the strut. This is not considered a contributing factor in causing the ground loop.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 30, 2010 CFI 2112045, EARL KESSLER, WAS CONDUCTING A FLIGHT CHECK FOR A TAIL WHEEL ENDORSEMENT IN MINDEN, NV (MEV). AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 34, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED INTO A LEFT TURN. MR. KESSLER THEN TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE INDIVIDUAL UNDER INSTRUCTION IS A COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN A LEFT TURN AND GROUND LOOPED. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, SKIDDING SIDEWAYS AND POINTING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF LANDING, THE LEFT LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ABOUT 10 MORE FEET RIDING UP ON TOP OF THE SEVERED GEAR STRUT AND WHEEL AND THEN CAME TO REST SLAMMING THE LEFT OUTER WING ONTO THE ASPHALT SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALS THAT IT IS THAT OF A CESSNA 180 AND NOT THAT OF A CESSNA 170A. PROPER PAPER WORK INSTALLING THIS GEAR WAS FOUND. ALSO NOTED WAS EVIDENCE OF OLD CRACKS STARTING AT THE SHEAR POINT ON BOTH LEADING AND TRAILING EDGES OF THE STRUT. THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN CAUSING THE GROUND LOOP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.