# NTSB GAA15CA250: Grumman American Avn. G 164A, N8761H, Welsh, LA, August 28, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 28, 2015, 15:23 local (20:23 UTC) - Place: Welsh, LA - Coordinates: 30.2425, -92.831947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2425&lon=-92.8319&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 November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: BATON ROUGE FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91940/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91940 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA250 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3960202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3960202), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Grumman American Avn. G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3960202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3960202), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3960202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel equipped biplane. During the landing roll, the pilot stated that as the tailwheel touched down, the nose of the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, but the airplane exited the runway surface and ground looped. During the ground loop, the airplane nosed forward and the top right side of the wing impacted the terrain. The right top wing was substantially damaged. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel equipped biplane. During the landing roll, the pilot stated that as the tailwheel touched down, the nose of the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, but the airplane exited the runway surface and ground looped. During the ground loop, the airplane nosed forward and the top right side of the wing impacted the terrain. The right top wing was substantially damaged. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8761H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8761H), registered now, S/N 1516, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. G 164A (A) - Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-g-164a) (registry code 3960202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1516 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 1457 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 985 14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gulf Coast Air - Registered owner: Lejeune Aerial Applications LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2015 - Departed: 6R1, Welsh, LA - Destination: 6R1, Welsh, LA - Airport: 6R1, Welsh, runway 25, 2,700 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 9, 2014; seat: center; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 525 total, 50 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: 3R7, 8 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 20150828015189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150828015189A), Aug 28, 2015: Grumman American Avn. Corp. G-164A, Welsh, LA, Substantial damage. During landing, pilot stated when the tailwheel touched down, the aircraft started to turn to the left. He applied right brake and right rudder. The tail… ## Other investigations on N8761H (1) 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 ATL07LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA131), Sep 29, 2007: Grumman G-164A (N8761H), Pittsgrove, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to low compression for undetermined reasons. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91940. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 555 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.