# Accident 20210327009059A: American Legend Aircraft Co AL3, Petaluma, CA, March 27, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 2021, 16:10 local time
- Place: Petaluma, CA
- Airport: Petaluma
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2578° N, 122.6053° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2578&lon=-122.6053&mi=10
- Aircraft: N712YP, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N712YP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Legend AL3 (registry code 060002K, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL3
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,033 total, 153 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210327009059A

## Narrative

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

PIC OF N712YP ON DAY OF INCIDENT WAS SOLE INDIVIDUAL ON BOARD AT TIME OF INCIDENT. SHE WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS IN HER AIRCRAFT OF WHICH SHE HAS 120 HOURS IN THE TYPE(TAILWHEEL) WITH BY HER ESTIMATE 500-600 LANDINGS. TOTAL PIC HOURS IS 2033 CONDITIONS ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT WERE REPORTED AS WINDS AT 11 KNOTS VARIABLE AND GUSTY FROM 240-330. SHE TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 29 AND PRIOR TO THE TAIL WHEEL MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. A VIDEO SHOWS THE ENGINE WAS POWERS UP TO ABORT THE LANDING. AT THIS POINT DYNAMIC ROTATION, ROTATED THE AIRCRAFT AROUND. WHERE IT STRUCK THE RUNWAY NOSE FIRST AND CAME TO A STOP.

AIRCRAFT RIGHT WING APPEARS TO BE BENT SLIGHTLY AFT, EVIDENCED BY WRINKLED PANELS AND SKIN NEAR WING ROOT. THE RIGHT WING FORWARD STRUT IS BENT UP NEAR THE FUSELAGE. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO CONTACT WITH THE LANDING GEAR. UPON IMPACT RIGHT GEAR FORWARD SUPPORT SNAPPED AT MOUNT BOLT GEAR FOLDED AFT AND UP. LEFT WING FORWARD SPAR HAS BUCKLING NEAR STRUT ATTACH POINT. THERE IS VISIBLE DAMAGE ON LEFT WING LEADING EDGE. ENGINE MOUNT IS BENT AT ENGINE FORWARD MOUNT BOLTS. ENGINE INTAKE SNAPPED ABOVE CARBURETOR. PROPELLER MISSING APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES FROM BOTH TIPS AND SPLINTERED. THE FUSELAGE VERTICAL SUPPORT AT THE RIGHT HAND FIREWALL APPEARS BOWED. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DETERMINATION.

## 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 WPR21LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA167), Mar 27, 2021: American Legend AL3 (N712YP), Petaluma, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

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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