What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 17,2023 at approximately 1425 PDT time, Cessna privacy data omittedan L19 birddog ground looped on landing runway 08 at Big Bear Airport in CA. There were no injuries, but there was substantial damage to the aircraft. After speaking to the Big Bear Airport manager on July 19. 2023 it was made apparent that the wind on that day was unstable and moving in different directions. As part of the investigation, the riverside FSDO was also able to talk with the pilot on August 02, 2023, who stated that the wind was a factor, but that the main reason for the ground loop was a pin that broke in the tailwheel assembly keeping it from locking in connection with the rudder for steering during takeoff and landing. This can be a factor during gusty wind conditions and crosswind landings such as the day of the accident. The pilot also stated that the damage would have been minor if it wasn’t for the drainage ditch that runs along the runway at Big Bear. The aircraft had drifted off the runway into the ditch causing major damage to the right wing and other components. This investigation is considered closed at this time, with no further action.
Sas task id T-WP21-FY23-0339
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 17,2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1425 PDT TIME, CESSNA ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AN L19 BIRDDOG GROUND LOOPED ON LANDING RUNWAY 08 AT BIG BEAR AIRPORT IN CA. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE BIG BEAR AIRPORT MANAGER ON JULY 19. 2023 IT WAS MADE APPARENT THAT THE WIND ON THAT DAY WAS UNSTABLE AND MOVING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION, THE RIVERSIDE FSDO WAS ALSO ABLE TO TALK WITH THE PILOT ON AUGUST 02, 2023, WHO STATED THAT THE WIND WAS A FACTOR, BUT THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THE GROUND LOOP WAS A PIN THAT BROKE IN THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY KEEPING IT FROM LOCKING IN CONNECTION WITH THE RUDDER FOR STEERING DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDING. THIS CAN BE A FACTOR DURING GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND CROSSWIND LANDINGS SUCH AS THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN MINOR IF IT WASN’T FOR THE DRAINAGE DITCH THAT RUNS ALONG THE RUNWAY AT BIG BEAR. THE AIRCRAFT HAD DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE DITCH CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AND OTHER COMPONENTS. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONSIDERED CLOSED AT THIS TIME, WITH NO FURTHER ACTION.
SAS TASK ID T-WP21-FY23-0339
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N62TX · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.