# NTSB ANC03LA102: de Havilland DHC-2, N513F, Kenai, AK, August 24, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 2003, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.799999, -151.716659
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8000&lon=-151.7167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA, Anchorage  Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57769
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57769/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA102

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent ground loop.  A factor in the accident was a crosswind.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot reported he was landing his tailwheel airplane to the south on a private gravel airstrip.  He said there was a direct crosswind from the east of between 5 and 10 knots.  Shortly after touchdown, he lost control of the airplane, and it ground-looped to the left.  The right main landing gear bent, and the right wing struck the ground, with the outboard 4 feet separating from the airplane.  The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On August 24, 2003, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 airplane, N513F, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing at a private airstrip, located approximately 25 miles northwest of Kenai, Alaska.  The solo commercial pilot/airplane owner was not injured.  The Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The flight departed the Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1330, and the destination was the private airstrip.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 25, at 1415, the pilot related he was landing to the south on the gravel-surfaced airstrip.  He said there was a direct crosswind from the east at 5 to 10 knots, and shortly after he lowered the tailwheel during the landing roll, he lost control of the airplane and it ground-looped to the left.  He reported that the right landing gear leg was bent, and the right wing was snapped-off about 4 feet inboard from the wingtip.  He said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N513F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1268
- Airframe hours: 12133
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John Swinko
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 12, 2002, 26 hours before
- Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Kenai, AK
- Airport: Trading Bay

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,626 total, 1,574 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20030824025489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030824025489A), Aug 24, 2003: Dhav DHC2*, Trading Bay, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he landed opposite to what he normally uses, was rolling out, when he lost control and ground looped, causing substantial damage.

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.

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