ERA11CA410

NTSB accident investigation · Sky International A-1C-180 · Fryeburg, ME · July 20, 2011

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 20, 2011, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
Place
Fryeburg, ME
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N52LKSky International A-1C-180
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 6, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20110720014799A
Case key
81166

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusty wind conditions.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAviat A-1C-180: 11 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotAviat A-1C-180: 20 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot stated that he received a preflight weather briefing about 1 1/2 hours before departure, and the wind at his destination was reported to be calm or from the south at 8 to 10 knots. He departed and proceeded to his destination, where he reported that the windsock at the airport indicated a variable crosswind. He performed an approach to runway 14 and sensed a tailwind component, so he performed a go-around. He remained in the traffic pattern and selected runway 32. During the touchdown, the left wing raised and the airplane began to ground loop. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and came to rest upright, sustaining substantial damage to the propeller, right landing gear, and right wing. The reported wind 54 minutes after the accident was variable from 190 to 250 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 16 knots.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he received a preflight weather briefing about 1.5 hours before departure, and the wind in the destination area was reported to be calm or from the south at 8 to 10 knots. He departed and proceeded to the destination airport, where he reported the windsock indicated a cross wind “…with variability.” He initiated an approach to runway 14 which seemed to have a tailwind component so he performed a go-around. He remained in the traffic pattern and initiated approach to runway 32. While on final approach he believed he had enough rudder but reported there must have been a gust. During landing the left wing raised and a ground loop began. The airplane veered to the right off the runway and came to rest upright. A surface weather observation taken at the accident airport approximately 54 minutes after the accident indicates the wind was variable from 190 to 250 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 16 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N52LK
Reported as
Sky International A-1C-180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
3086
Airframe hours
97
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Laurence D. Ketner
Registered owner
Laurence D. Ketner
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 1, 2011
Departed
LEW · Auburn, ME
Destination
IZG · Fryeburg, ME
Airport
IZG · Eastern Slopes Regional Airpor, runway 32, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
53
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 2, 2010
Seat
Front
Flight hours
1,097 total · 68 in this make and model · 1,022 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 8 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
29.82 inHg
Observed at
IZG

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.