# NTSB ERA21LA096: Taylorcraft BC12, N96540, Topping, VA, December 30, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 30, 2020, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Topping, VA - Coordinates: 37.602493, -76.446681 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6025&lon=-76.4467&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: 2 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): 102494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102494/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102494 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, with resulted in a ground loop and subsequent nose over. ## 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: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8850316), [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: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Taylorcraft BC12-D, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8850316), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was practicing a power-off landing to a grass area parallel to a paved runway. The pilot stated that during the landing, the airplane pulled to the right and he was able to compensate for that with the application of hard left rudder. Then the airplane veered hard to the left, and the pilot was unable to correct with application of opposite rudder. The airplane then ground looped and nosed over. The airplane’s right wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder were substantially damaged during the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s flight controls by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that they operated through their normal range of movement and displayed no binding. Additionally, the airplane’s brakes were tested by the inspector, who found that with the exception that the pedal pressure of the right brake was weaker than that of the left brake, the brakes operated normally with no binding noted. A subsequent examination of the brakes performed by a mechanic found that the right brake pedal return spring was missing and that there was evidence of rubbing at the wheel cylinders at the cable to pin connections. No other issues were noted. Given this information, it is unlikely that any mechanical issues of either the flight control or braking system contributed to the loss of control during landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96540](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96540), registered now, S/N 8840 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT BC12 (D) - Registry model: [Taylorcraft BC12-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-bc12-d) (registry code 8850316) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8840 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2460 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 2020, 4 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: W75, Hummel Field, runway 1, 2,167 × 45 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,441 total, 32 in this make and model, 8,271 as pilot in command, 131 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.44 inHg - Observed at: KFYJ, 16 nm away - METAR: KFYJ 301655Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM CLR 07/M02 A3044 RMK AO1 T00681017 ## 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 20201230017459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201230017459A), Dec 30, 2020: Taylorcraft BC12-D, Topping, VA, Substantial damage. Airman made landing in grassy area parallel to W75 runway 01. Lost control and veered left onto runway upsetting the aircraft onto its nose and skidding to the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102494. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11820853&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11821193&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-pilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot email statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12451689&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandom-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, mechanic (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11820992&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-mechanic-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11820229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11820548&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=investigative%20photo%27s-Rel.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.