# NTSB CEN09CA548: Piper PA-15, N4380H, Plainwell, MI, August 15, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 15, 2009, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Plainwell, MI
- Coordinates: 42.467777, -85.648056
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4678&lon=-85.6481&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA548
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74612/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74612
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA548

## Probable cause

A loss of control on takeoff for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: steering unit](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023251): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023251/cases.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023251/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101502), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he began the takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a left quartering headwind. He stated that during the takeoff roll a wind gust caused the airplane to swerve. He attempted to abort the takeoff and the airplane ground-looped. During the event, the right main landing gear collapsed and the wing tip struck the runway, damaging the wing structure. A weather reporting station located 18 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded the wind 7 minutes before the accident as being from 190 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Fifty-three minutes after the accident time the same weather station recorded the wind speed as 7 knots gusting to 14 knots and direction as variable between 130 degrees and 200 degrees. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed a failure of the left steering spring chain link. It could not be determined if the chain link failure occurred prior to or during the accident sequence.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he began the takeoff roll in the tailwheel airplane with a left quartering headwind. He stated that during the takeoff roll a wind gust caused the airplane to swerve. He attempted to abort the takeoff and the airplane ground looped. During the event, the right main landing gear collapsed and the wingtip struck the runway damaging the wing structure. A weather reporting station located 18 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded the wind 7 minutes before the reported accident time as 190 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 18 knots. Fifty-three minutes after the accident time the same weather station recorded the wind speed as 7 knots gusting to 14 knots and direction as variable between 130 degrees and 200 degrees. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed a failure of the left steering spring chain link. It could not be determined if the chain link failure occurred prior to or during the accident sequence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4380H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4380H), registered now, S/N 15-165, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-15
- Registry model: [Piper PA-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-15) (registry code 7101502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15-165
- Airframe hours: 1472
- Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2008
- Departed: 61D, Plainwell, MI
- Destination: 61D, Plainwell, MI
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 61D, Plainwell Municipal Airport, runway 27, 2,650 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 16, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,556 total, 114 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: AZO, 15 nm away

## 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 20090815048799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090815048799A), Aug 15, 2009: Piper PA-15, Plainwell, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft was departing runway 27 at Plainwell municipal airport, Plainwell mi. The winds were variable from the south at approximatly 10 KTS. Early in the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74612. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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