What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Evidence of the wreckage from N54LM indicates that the bi-wing aircraft attempted to land on runway 33 at the Red Bluff airport. Damage shows that the bottom right wing tip struck the pavement first. The aircraft seemed to have cartwheeled based on damage to the upper leading edge on the left wing. The aircraft ended up inverted on the pavement with substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. Signatures from the propeller indicate that the engine was operating at the time of the crash. Pilot stated in writing that he planned on landing to a full stop. The left tire touched down first. The aircraft spun 180 degrees and flipped on it's back. Pilot stated that it was a standard ground loop.
On April 15, 2021 I counselled privacy data omitted on the hazards of ground looping tailwheel aircraft. privacy data omitted Was cooperative and understanding. He explained the extra training he received before operating aircraft N54LM, which I believe was sufficient.
As the FAA filed it
EVIDENCE OF THE WRECKAGE FROM N54LM INDICATES THAT THE BI-WING AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 33 AT THE RED BLUFF AIRPORT. DAMAGE SHOWS THAT THE BOTTOM RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE PAVEMENT FIRST. THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO HAVE CARTWHEELED BASED ON DAMAGE TO THE UPPER LEADING EDGE ON THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT ENDED UP INVERTED ON THE PAVEMENT WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. SIGNATURES FROM THE PROPELLER INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. PILOT STATED IN WRITING THAT HE PLANNED ON LANDING TO A FULL STOP. THE LEFT TIRE TOUCHED DOWN FIRST. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN 180 DEGREES AND FLIPPED ON IT'S BACK. PILOT STATED THAT IT WAS A STANDARD GROUND LOOP.
ON APRIL 15, 2021 I COUNSELLED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ON THE HAZARDS OF GROUND LOOPING TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS COOPERATIVE AND UNDERSTANDING. HE EXPLAINED THE EXTRA TRAINING HE RECEIVED BEFORE OPERATING AIRCRAFT N54LM, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS SUFFICIENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.