# NTSB DEN00LA126: Piper PA-18-150, N4785F, Erie, CO, July 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2000, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.020191, -105.039817 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0202&lon=-105.0398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49644 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49644/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA126 ## Probable cause Aircraft control was not possible by the flight instructor due to the inadequate maintenance adjustment of the tail wheel steering system by maintenance personnel. Factors were the inadequate aircraft preflight by the second pilot who was receiving a recurrency check ride, and the inadequate supervision, of the second pilot who was performing the preflight, by the flight instructor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,steering system - maintenance,adjustment - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction performed a three-point landing, and the airplane bounced. The airplane immediately veered to the right following the second touchdown. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and applied full left rudder; the airplane exited the right side of the runway and ground looped. Postaccident examination of the tail wheel steering assembly revealed that the two chains/springs that controlled the tail wheel steering had an estimated 1 1/2 inches of slack in them. The steering chain was being held together by a 'carabiner.' A maintenance person said that the chains and springs connected to the tail wheel steering assembly 'should be tight enough to give the pilot positive steering control.' The maintenance records indicate that the airplane had accumulated approximately 4 flight hours since major rebuild. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2000, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 (Super Cub), N4785F, was substantially damaged during landing at Tri-County Airport, Erie, Colorado. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the Soaring Society of Boulder, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that originated from Boulder, Colorado, approximately 30 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The flight instructor said that the purpose for the flight was a currency check ride for a qualified tow pilot. He said the pilot receiving instruction performed a three-point landing, and the airplane bounced. The airplane immediately veered to the right following the second touchdown. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and applied full left rudder. The airplane subsequently exited the right side of the runway and ground looped. The main spar on the left wing was bent up. Postaccident examination, by the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, of the tail wheel steering assembly revealed that the two chains/springs that controlled the tail wheel steering had an estimated 1 1/2 inches of slack in them. He also found that the chain was being held together by a "carabiner." A maintenance person said that the chains and springs connected to the tail wheel steering assembly "should be tight enough to give the pilot positive steering control." The maintenance records indicate that the airplane had accumulated approximately 4 flight hours since major rebuild. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4785F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4785F), registered now, S/N 18-7906, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7906 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Soaring Society Of Boulder - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2000 - Departed: 1V5, BOULDER, CO - Destination: 48V - Airport: 48V, Tri-County Airport, runway 15, 4,700 × 60 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 80 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 7 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 20000708010469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000708010469A), Jul 8, 2000: Piper PA18150, Erie, CO, No damage. (-23) Pilot terry was checking pilot mainero out in the glider club's tow plane and during landing mainero lost control of the aircraft. Pilot terry took… ## Other investigations on N4785F (3) 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 GAA19CA572](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA572), Sep 23, 2019: Piper PA18 (N4785F), Boulder, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. - [NTSB GAA15CA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA011), Mar 16, 2015: Piper PA18 - 150 (N4785F), Boulder, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during a bounced landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. - [NTSB DEN99LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA111), Jul 1, 1999: Piper PA-18-150 (N4785F), Boulder, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. 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.