LAX07CA042

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a nose down and ground loop while landing in strong winds. As the pilot approached the vicinity of the destination airport, he noted that the winds were about 35 to 40 miles per hour (mph). In order to land into the wind he opted to perform a landing on a ramp area of the airport. The airplane touched down on the ramp's surface with a forward groundspeed of about 3 mph. A side load was placed on the left main landing gear, and the tire subsequently deflated. The airplane veered to the left and pitched forward, resulting in damage to the firewall. A weather reporting station in the area reported winds at 24 mph, gusting to 28 mph.

On November 21, 2006, about 1430 Pacific standard time, an amateur built Pippert Zenith CH-701, N7092B, nosed down and collided with the ground while landing at the Yerington Municipal Airport, Yerington, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal cross-country flight departed Gnoss Field Airport, Novato, California, about 1120, with a planned destination of Yerington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed.

In a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot reported that as he approached the vicinity of Yerington, he noted that the winds were gusting about 35 to 40 miles per hour (mph). He opted to perform a landing in a tie-down ramp area, in an effort to land with a headwind. The airplane touched down on the ramp's surface with a forward groundspeed of about 3 mph. A side load was placed on the left main landing gear, and the tire subsequently deflated. The airplane veered to the left, and pitched forward. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall.

The pilot further stated that the retired airport manager indicated that the winds were about 50 mph with gusts at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to impact.

A weather reporting station in Yerington had record of a wind advisory in effect at the time of the accident, which was valid until 2200 that night. At 1427, it reported winds from the south-southwest at 28 mph, with no gusts. At 1437, it reported winds from the south-southwest at 21 mph, gusting to 28 mph.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he had spoken with a representative from the Oakland Flight Service Station (FSS). The FSS had a record of the accident pilot being notified of a Central Weather Advisory for low-level turbulence and wind shear.

**This narrative was modified on June 6, 2007.*