# NTSB GAA18CA181: Piper PA22, N50KF, Hillsboro, OR, March 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 10, 2018, 14:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, OR - Coordinates: 45.537498, -122.946662 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5375&lon=-122.9467&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 July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96938/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96938 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA181 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in tailwind conditions. ## 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: [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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) - [Personality/attitude: complacency](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; 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) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 student pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, the airplane ground looped, and the right main landing gear collapsed. He added that he believes he became complacent during the flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 27 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 070° at 8 knots. The airplane landed on runway 31L. ## Factual narrative The student pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, the airplane ground looped, and the right main landing gear collapsed. He added that he believes he became complacent during the flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 27 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 070° at 8 knots. The airplane landed on runway 31L. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50KF-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 22-4274, 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: 22-4274 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 3484.9 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 5, 2018 - Departed: SPB, SCAPPOOSE, OR - Destination: SPB, SCAPPOOSE, OR - Airport: HIO, Portland-Hillsboro, runway 31L, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 128.6 total, 53.9 in this make and model, 14.6 as pilot in command, 13.8 in the last 90 days, 2.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KHIO ## 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 20180310001879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180310001879A), Mar 10, 2018: Piper PA-22-150, Hillsboro, OR, Substantial damage. On Saturday, March 10, 2018, a Piper-22-150, registered as N50KF, serial number 22-4274, was involved in an accident at portland-Hillsboro Airport (khio) in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96938. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 866 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.