# NTSB LAX06CA144: Aviat A-1B, N143HP, Chandler, AZ, April 22, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 22, 2006, 08:11 local (15:11 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.240383, -111.780189 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2404&lon=-111.7802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63557/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. A contributing factor was the pilot's excessive use of the flight controls. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The airplane ground looped upon encountering wind gusts during the landing rollout. The winds were approximately 90 degrees right of the airplane's landing direction at between 8 and 10 knots. The pilot said that when the airplane weather vaned, he applied corrective action that was excessive, and the airplane ground looped. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2006, about 0811 mountain standard time, an Aviat, A-1B, N143HP, ground looped during landing on runway 04L at the Chandler Municipal Airport, Chandler, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by Chandler Air Service, Inc., during the private pilot's local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Chandler about 0745. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that on his fourth touch-and-go, as the airplane's wheels touched down, a "light gust" was encountered that caused the airplane to slightly weather vane. The pilot took corrective action by applying rudder pressure. Then, the airplane yawed violently to the right. The pilot reacted with application of full left rudder pressure and full engine power. The airplane started to straighten its course, but then violently yawed left, veered off the runway and ground looped. The pilot estimated that the wind was between 130 and 140 degrees, and its speed was between 8 and 10 knots. The pilot indicated to the Safety Board investigator that, during the mishap, he might have overcorrected his control efforts when he encountered the gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N143HP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N143HP), registered now, S/N NF0007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A-1B - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NF0007 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Chandler Air Service - Registered owner: Arizona Flieger Co, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CHD, Chandler - Destination: CHD, Chandler - Airport: CHD, Chandler Municipal, runway 4L, 4,870 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 362 total, 5 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20060422008619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060422008619A), Apr 22, 2006: Aviat A1B, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was conducting touch and go landings. On his fourth landing the pilot lost control of the aircraft and ground looped off the runway colliding with… 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.