# NTSB FTW03LA074: Cessna 170A, N1392D, West Helena, AR, December 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 2002, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: West Helena, AR - Coordinates: 34.576389, -90.675834 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5764&lon=-90.6758&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office (SW11) - NTSB case key (mKey): 56283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56283/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA074 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the deflated tire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,tire - deflated (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 850-hour pilot lost of control of the tail-wheel equipped airplane while landing with a flat tire. The pilot stated that after an uneventful flight, he "landed hard" on Runway 17 and executed a go-around to set up for another approach/landing. Upon landing, the airplane ground looped and skidded off the runway to the left, in a 45 degree angle. The pilot further stated that he believed that the airplane had "blown" the right tire during the first hard landing, and upon touchdown after the go-around, the blown tire contributed to the ground loop. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 2002, at approximately 1600 central standard time, a Cessna 170A tail-wheel equipped airplane, N1392D, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a loss of control while landing on Runway 17 at the West Helena Municipal Airport (HEE), near West Helena, Arkansas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated at 1500 from Clarksdale, Mississippi (CKM). In a telephone interview with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, the 850-hour pilot stated that after an uneventful flight from Clarksdale, he "landed hard" on Runway 17 at HEE and executed a go-around to set up for another approach/landing. Upon landing, the airplane ground looped and skidded off the runway to the left, in a 45-degree angle. The pilot further stated that he believed the airplane had "blown" the right tire during the first hard landing, and upon touch down after the go-around, the blown tire contributed to the groundloop. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, noted a bent propeller blade and the landing gear had jammed, resulting in structural damage to the landing gear box. At the time of the accident, the winds at HEE were reported from 170 degrees at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear sky, temperature at 16 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 4 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the Investigator-In-Charge at 428 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1392D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1392D), registered now, S/N 19968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19968 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles L. Cox - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CKM, Clarkesdale, MS - Destination: HEE, West Helena, AR - Airport: HEE, West Helena Municipal, runway 17, 5,000 × 96 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 22, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 850 total, 20 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg ## 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 20021222034309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021222034309A), Dec 22, 2002: Cessna 170A, Helena/West Hel, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 22, 2002, at approximately 1600 CDT, Cessna 170, N1392D, experienced a 'hard landing' at west Helena, Arkansas. The private pilot executed a… 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.