LAX04CA222

The pilot lost control of the tail wheel equipped airplane while on landing roll and ground looped the airplane. The pilot had no prior experience in the accident airplane make and model, which was a single seat airplane, and was receiving guidance from another pilot via a handheld radio. During the pilot's third landing, he reduced power, the airplane yawed to the left, and ground looped. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane that would have led to the accident.

On June 2, 2004, at 0920 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A188A AgWagon airplane, N9961G, had the right main landing gear collapse during landing at the Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV), Minden, Nevada. The pilot was operating the airplane, registered to a private individual, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight departed MEV approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the pilot was getting checked out in the single seat, tail wheel equipped airplane. The pilot was experienced in tail wheel equipped airplanes; however, he had never flown in this aircraft make and model until the accident flight. He was receiving guidance via a handheld radio from another pilot located on the ground.

In a written statement provided by the pilot, he reported that he received a briefing on the airplane from the other pilot, who suggested that he perform wheel landings rather than three-point landings. The other pilot also briefed the accident pilot on approach speeds and stall speeds. The pilot taxied out to the active runway and noted that the airplane required some differential braking during turns. He performed a standard run-up, found everything to be "operating normally," and proceeded with his takeoff.

The pilot performed two wheel landing touch-and-goes before coming in for his third landing, which was to be to a full stop. His third approach was the same as the first two, but as he reduced the power, the tail lowered and the airplane yawed to the left. The pilot said that he "did not have enough rudder authority" to correct for the yaw. The pilot on the ground told the accident pilot to add power, which he did. However, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the pilot reduced power. The airplane continued to "ground loop," resulting in an excessive "side load" on the right main landing gear, which separated. The airplane came to rest upright.

According to a mechanic located at MEV, the airplane's right rear spar sustained structural damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The FAA inspector examined the airplane after the accident, and found no anomalies with its flight controls or ground steering system.

The weather observation facility located at the Lake Tahoe Airport (13 miles southwest of the accident airport) reported the wind as calm at 0853.