# NTSB ERA20CA185: Piper PA22, N4454A, Fayetteville, TN, May 11, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2020, 19:00 UTC - Place: Fayetteville, TN - Coordinates: 35.060554, -86.563888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0606&lon=-86.5639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101289 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101289/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101289 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA185 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing touch and go landings. On his third landing, he knew there was a crosswind from his left side, so he touched down with the left main landing gear first. When the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane started to veer off to the left, so he corrected with right rudder and the airplane pulled hard to the right. The pilot then saw a ditch on the right side of the runway, so he applied "hard left rudder" to purposefully put the airplane into a ground loop so the airplane would not go off the runway and into the ditch. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear fractured and folded under the fuselage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear tube fractured, and that the fracture surfaces did not display corrosion. The right wing rear spar and the lower longeron were substantially damaged. Examination of the flight controls and brakes showed no evidence of any preaccident anomalies. At the time of the accident a left crosswind component of between 9 and 17 knots prevailed. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was performing touch and go landings. On his third landing, he knew there was a crosswind from his left side, so he touched down with the left main landing gear first. When the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane started to veer off to the left, so he corrected with right rudder and the airplane pulled hard to the right. The pilot then saw a ditch on the right side of the runway, so he applied "hard left rudder" to purposefully put the airplane into a ground loop so the airplane would not go off the runway and into the ditch. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear fractured and folded under the fuselage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear tube fractured, and that the fracture surfaces did not display corrosion. The right wing rear spar and the lower longeron were substantially damaged. Examination of the flight controls and brakes showed no evidence of any preaccident anomalies. At the time of the accident a left crosswind component of between 9 and 17 knots prevailed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4454A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4454A), registered now, S/N 22-3787, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA22 (150) - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-3787 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 2144.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 2020 - Departed: FYM, Fayetteville, TN - Destination: FYM, Fayetteville, TN - Airport: FYM, Fayetteville Muni, runway 02, 5,900 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 234 total, 42 in this make and model, 166 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: FYM ## 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 20200511005489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200511005489A), May 11, 2020: Piper PA-22-150, Fayetteville, TN, Substantial damage. On 5/11/20 at approximately 1400L N4454A was attempting a wheel landing at kfym (Fayetteville Municipal Airport). N4454A experienced a 5-10 knot crosswind at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101289. 4.1 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=40486721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Investigative Photo's (item 4, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-Master.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. --- 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.