What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On November 12, 2022 at approximately 12:28 local time pilot had landed and was rolling out on runway 18 (runway in use) at Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville, Florida (ktix).
The pilot was instructed to make a left turn onto runway 09 if able. The pilot made an abrupt right turn onto runway 27 and went into the grass on the south side of runway 9/27 and then back onto runway 9/27 hard surface facing east. The pilot was able to hold short of runway 18.
The pilot reported to ktix air traffic contro tower (ATCT) a loss of brakes but could taxi to the ramp. The pilot was given instructions to return to the ramp. After turning onto taxiway alpha the pilot reported that he may have damaged an airport sign.
During the investigation the pilot stated that the brakes seemed mushy during the ground loop incident but were fine during taxi.
The aircraft did strike an airport sign causing minor damage to the left flap and left horizontal stabilizer.
The reported weahter at ktix at the time of the incident had the wind from 260 degrees at 8 KTS. The pilot stated that the wind was reported from 190 during his approach to the airport.
Winds shifting to a crosswind contributed to this aircraft with conventional gear ground looping. The possibilty of mushy brakes may have contributed also making it more difficult for the pilot to maintain immediate control.
The pilot is an expereinced pilot stating that he had 5000 hrs of tailwheel flight time.
As the FAA filed it
ON NOVEMBER 12, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:28 LOCAL TIME PILOT HAD LANDED AND WAS ROLLING OUT ON RUNWAY 18 (RUNWAY IN USE) AT SPACE COAST REGIONAL AIRPORT, TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA (KTIX).
THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO RUNWAY 09 IF ABLE. THE PILOT MADE AN ABRUPT RIGHT TURN ONTO RUNWAY 27 AND WENT INTO THE GRASS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF RUNWAY 9/27 AND THEN BACK ONTO RUNWAY 9/27 HARD SURFACE FACING EAST. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY 18.
THE PILOT REPORTED TO KTIX AIR TRAFFIC CONTRO TOWER (ATCT) A LOSS OF BRAKES BUT COULD TAXI TO THE RAMP. THE PILOT WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO RETURN TO THE RAMP. AFTER TURNING ONTO TAXIWAY ALPHA THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MAY HAVE DAMAGED AN AIRPORT SIGN.
DURING THE INVESTIGATION THE PILOT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SEEMED MUSHY DURING THE GROUND LOOP INCIDENT BUT WERE FINE DURING TAXI.
THE AIRCRAFT DID STRIKE AN AIRPORT SIGN CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FLAP AND LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
THE REPORTED WEAHTER AT KTIX AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT HAD THE WIND FROM 260 DEGREES AT 8 KTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 190 DURING HIS APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT.
WINDS SHIFTING TO A CROSSWIND CONTRIBUTED TO THIS AIRCRAFT WITH CONVENTIONAL GEAR GROUND LOOPING. THE POSSIBILTY OF MUSHY BRAKES MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED ALSO MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN IMMEDIATE CONTROL.
THE PILOT IS AN EXPEREINCED PILOT STATING THAT HE HAD 5000 HRS OF TAILWHEEL FLIGHT TIME.
Other reports on N606PA · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.