# Accident 20170407003499A: Shilt Jerry C F-1 ROCKET, Bessemer, AL, April 7, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 2017, 09:30 local time
- Place: Bessemer, AL
- Airport: Bessemer
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3133° N, 86.9253° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3133&lon=-86.9253&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3839Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SHILT JERRY C F-1 ROCKET
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 154 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA220) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170407003499A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ENROUTE FROM LAKELAND FL.(LAL) TO EL DORADO SPRINGS MO.(87K) WITH REFUELING STOP AT BESSEMER AL.  ABOUT TEN MILES OUT FROM (EKY) PILOT CALLED FOR AN AIRPORT ADVISORY AND WAS TOLD THE WINDS WERE 310 DEGREES AT 11 GUSTING. THE FBO REPORTED THE WINDS WERE SHIFTING BUT WERE GENERALLY FAVORING RUNWAY 23. I REPORTED LEFT BASE FOR 23 AND THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL WITH TOUCHDOWN ABOUT NORMAL CONSIDERING THE WIND CONDITIONS. PILOT STATED ?I BELIEVE I LOST CONTROL AS I WAS LOWERING THE TAIL WITH LITTLE RUDDER CONTROL AND TAIL WHEEL NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY. I STARTED TO THE RIGHT WHICH WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE WIND AT THAT TIME, AS I CORRECTED TO THE LEFT I LOST CONTROL AND DID A HALF GROUND LOOP TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS VERY GENTLE AND AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY MY WIFE AND I EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES AT ALL.? PILOT STATED AS HE STOOD ON THE RUNWAY WAITING FOR THE AIRCRAFT TO BE REMOVED, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIND WAS SHIFTING ABOUT SIXTY DEGREES FROM ABOUT 280 TO 340 DEGREES, HIS BEST GUESS LOOKING AT THE WIND SOCK. PILOT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A CLASSIC GROUND LOOP.

## 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 GAA17CA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA220), Apr 7, 2017: Shilt Jerry C F-1 Rocket (N3839Y), Bessimer, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout in gusting crosswind conditions.

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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