What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Piper PA-20 was second in pattern for rwy 18 at kgeo behind a military helicopter. Just past midfield downwind, Piper pilot stated he lost sight of military helicopter and radioed for helicopter’s position. Piper pilot heard helicopter pilot state they were going to come in on rwy 36 instead of rwy 18.
Piper pilot made position reports while in the pattern. The Piper pilot stated that he lost visual contact with the helicopter until he was committed to landing. He stated the helicopter was sitting on the FBO ramp. Pilot made a 2-point landing and after passing the helicopter began to lose control of his aircraft.
Even with control inputs to correct the aircraft on the center line, the aircraft departed the paved surface and came to rest in the grass.
As the FAA filed it
PIPER PA-20 WAS SECOND IN PATTERN FOR RWY 18 AT KGEO BEHIND A MILITARY HELICOPTER. JUST PAST MIDFIELD DOWNWIND, PIPER PILOT STATED HE LOST SIGHT OF MILITARY HELICOPTER AND RADIOED FOR HELICOPTER’S POSITION. PIPER PILOT HEARD HELICOPTER PILOT STATE THEY WERE GOING TO COME IN ON RWY 36 INSTEAD OF RWY 18.
PIPER PILOT MADE POSITION REPORTS WHILE IN THE PATTERN. THE PIPER PILOT STATED THAT HE LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE HELICOPTER UNTIL HE WAS COMMITTED TO LANDING. HE STATED THE HELICOPTER WAS SITTING ON THE FBO RAMP. PILOT MADE A 2-POINT LANDING AND AFTER PASSING THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO LOSE CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT.
EVEN WITH CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT THE AIRCRAFT ON THE CENTER LINE, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE PAVED SURFACE AND CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS.
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 N8290C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.