20210312002659A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-22-135 · Orcus Island, WA · March 12, 2021

Date: March 12, 2021 · 12:17 local
Place: Orcus Island, WA
Airport: Eastsound
Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1224C
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR21LA132
Reported as: Piper PA-22-135
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N1224CRegistered now · Piper PA-22-135S/N 22-1030 · Built 1953 Airframe modelPiper PA-22-135 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On March 12, 2021, pilot was flying a PA-22-135 pacer aircraft, which has conventional (tailwheel) landing gear. He was making an approach to Eastsound Airport (kors) orcas Island, which is an uncontrolled airport (no control tower). Pilot approached runway 16 for landing. Pilot did not do a flyover to visually check the windsock for landing direction. The pilot continued his approach to runway 16. Upon touchdown, the pilot lost control of the aircraft; it did a ground loop causing the left main gear to collapse. After departing the aircraft, the pilot noticed he had a quartering tailwind.

As the FAA filed it

ON MARCH 12, 2021, PILOT WAS FLYING A PA-22-135 PACER AIRCRAFT, WHICH HAS CONVENTIONAL (TAILWHEEL) LANDING GEAR. HE WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO EASTSOUND AIRPORT (KORS) ORCAS ISLAND, WHICH IS AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT (NO CONTROL TOWER). PILOT APPROACHED RUNWAY 16 FOR LANDING. PILOT DID NOT DO A FLYOVER TO VISUALLY CHECK THE WINDSOCK FOR LANDING DIRECTION. THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 16. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT; IT DID A GROUND LOOP CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE. AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT NOTICED HE HAD A QUARTERING TAILWIND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR21LA132Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportEastsound, WAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a tailwind, which resulted in a landing gear collapse and collision with terrain.Mar 12, 2021 · Substantial damage