GAA16CA476

NTSB accident investigation · Luscombe 8 · Juneau, WI · September 10, 2016

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 10, 2016, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
Place
Juneau, WI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1263KLuscombe 8
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 18, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20160910017129A
Case key
93994

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 during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the foot pad cover slipping off the right rudder pedal during the landing roll.

Findings · 6

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.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotLuscombe 8E: 19 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedLuscombe 8E: 12 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Flight control system: rudder control systemAircraft › Aircraft systems · MalfunctionLuscombe 8E: 1 caseAll aircraft: 93 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeLuscombe 8E: 2 casesAll aircraft: 264 cases
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationLuscombe 8E: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 cases
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationLuscombe 8E: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases

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 of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane abruptly veered to the left because his right foot had rolled off the right rudder pedal. He further reported that he was able to regain rudder authority, but the airplane was approaching the left edge of the runway and he did not want to "apply hard right rudder" for fear of blowing a tire. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway surface into soft grass. During the runway excursion, the right main landing gear dug into the grass, folded under the fuselage, and the airplane ground looped. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported after the accident he found the right rudder foot pad cover had rolled off the rudder pedal and was lying on the cockpit floor. An automated weather observing system at the airport, near the time of the accident, reported the wind at 280 degrees true at 7 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The landing was on runway 26.

Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane abruptly veered to the left because his right foot had rolled off the right rudder pedal. He further reported that he was able to regain rudder authority, but the airplane was approaching the left edge of the runway and he did not want to "apply hard right rudder" for fear of blowing a tire. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway surface into soft grass. During the runway excursion, the right main landing gear dug into the grass, folded under the fuselage, and the airplane ground looped. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported after the accident he found the right rudder foot pad cover had rolled off the rudder pedal and was lying on the cockpit floor. An automated weather observing system at the airport, near the time of the accident, reported the wind at 280 degrees true at 7 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The landing was on runway 26.

Aircraft

Registration
N1263K
Reported as
Luscombe 8 (E)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
3990
Built
1946
Airframe hours
2,468.3
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 16, 2016
Departed
BMI · Bloomington/Normal, IL
Destination
UNU · Juneau, WI
Airport
UNU · Dodge County, runway 26, 5,070 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
None

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
54
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 20, 2015
Seat
Left
Flight hours
12,600 total · 150 in this make and model · 9,500 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
280° at 7 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,500 ft broken
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
29.94 inHg
Observed at
KUNU

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 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.