# NTSB CHI06CA159: Piper PA-22-135, N1270C, Nebraska City, NE, June 18, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2006, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Nebraska City, NE - Coordinates: 40.607223, -95.865554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6072&lon=-95.8656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64090/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout and the resulting ground loop. A contributing factor was the excessive tail wheel steering (rudder) input by the pilot. ## 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 - rudder - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when the pilot lost directional control during the landing rollout. The airplane subsequently ground looped causing the left wing to contact the ground and the left main landing gear to collapse. The pilot reported that he flew a "normal downwind to final" with a "very good touchdown followed by the start of a smooth rollout." He stated that the tail wheel began to "wobble (chatter)" and the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. He added engine power as the airplane reached the edge of the runway and applied rudder correction to return to the runway centerline. The pilot stated, "Too much right rudder started the ground loop which finished with the airplane having turned 180 [degrees]." When the airplane came to rest, the "left wing was down in the dirt with the left main folded under the airplane," according to the pilot. He noted no malfunctions with the airplane. He also commented that more patience with the tail wheel "chatter" may have prevented the over controlling which led to the ground loop. ## Factual narrative The airplane was substantially damaged when the pilot lost directional control during landing rollout. The airplane subsequently ground looped causing the left wing to contact the ground and the left main landing gear to collapse. The pilot reported that he flew a "normal downwind to final" with a "very good touchdown followed by the start of a smooth rollout." He stated that the tail wheel began to "wobble (chatter)" and the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. He added engine power as the airplane reached the edge of the runway and applied rudder correction to return to the runway centerline. The pilot stated, "Too much right rudder started the ground loop which finished with the airplane having turned 180 [degrees]." When the airplane came to rest, the "left wing was down in the dirt with the left main folded under the airplane," according to the pilot. He noted no malfunctions with the airplane. He also commented that more patience with the tail wheel "chatter" may have prevented the over controlling which led to the ground loop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1270C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1270C), registered now, S/N 22-1063, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-1063 - Airframe hours: 2727 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2005 - Departed: PMV, Plattsmouth, NE - Airport: AFK, Nebraska City Muni, runway 33, 4,500 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 10,475 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 10,265 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: AFK ## 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 20060618011829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060618011829A), Jun 18, 2006: Piper PA22135, Nebraska City, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) During roll out after uneventful landing the tailwheel commenced to shimmy and shake. Pilot added power and attempted to lift tail to relieve the… ## Other investigations on N1270C (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI92LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA296), Sep 27, 1992: Piper PA-22 (N1270C), Plattsmouth, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.