# Accident 20120831022329A: North American AT-6F, Council Bluffs, IA, August 31, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2012, 07:40 local time
- Place: Council Bluffs, IA
- Airport: Council Bluffs Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2561° N, 95.7553° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2561&lon=-95.7553&mi=10
- Aircraft: N244GR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN AT-6F
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 735 total, 4 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA607](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA607) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120831022329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE WIND WAS CALM AND THE PREVAILING WEATHER WAS VMC. THE PIC WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE FRONT SEAT AND PERFORMED THE TAKEOFF. AFTER LIFTOFF, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT IN THE REAR SEAT RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF.  THE PIC RESPONDED BY LOWERING THE PITCH OF THE AIRCRAFT AND COMPLETED A WHEEL LANDING NORMALLY. WHEN THE TAILWHEEL CONTACTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE IT BEGAN TO SHIMMY VIOLENTLY WHICH FORCED THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET OFF OF THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT MAIN GEAR BROKE UPON COMPLETION OF THE GROUND LOOP TURN AND A SMALL BRAKE FIRE ENSUED. THE PROPELLER SLIGHTLY IMPACTED THE TURF ALONGSIDE OF THE RUNWAY SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT HAND WING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN12CA607](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA607), Aug 31, 2012: North American AT-6F (N244GR), Council Bluffs, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An unlocking of the excessively worn tailwheel lock mechanism, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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