# NTSB MIA07LA066: EADS PZL Warsza PZL-104M Wilga, N424HD, Tampa, FL, March 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2007, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Tampa, FL - Coordinates: 27.915555, -82.449165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9156&lon=-82.4492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65479/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop and damage to the airplane. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that he affected a normal three-point landing within the first 1/3 of runway 35, and applied normal braking to slow the airplane and "the right brake system lost pressure and failed." He further stated that this caused the airplane to yaw left , and he applied full right rudder and released the left brake. He said that full control application was insufficient to correct adverse yaw, and the airplane exited the runway to the left, and ground looped. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the scene of the accident, postcrash examination of the accident airplane revealed no anomalies with the flight controls or the braking system. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2007, about 1600 eastern standard time, an Eads PZL Warsawa-Okecie SA, model PZL -104M Wilga 2000, experimental amateur-built airplane, N424HD, registered to, and operated by Island Century Media LLC, as a Title 14 CFR part 91, aerial observation flight, ground looped during while landing at Peter O'Knight Airport, Tampa, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. the commercial-rated pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Tampa, Florida, the same day, about 1400 The pilot stated that he and his crew had flown to downtown Tampa, Florida, filming video, and he returned to his departure airport and affected a normal three-point landing within the first 1/3 of runway 35. He said he applied normal braking to slow the airplane and "the right brake system lost pressure and failed." He further stated that this caused the airplane to yaw left , and he applied full right rudder and released the left brake. He said that full control application was insufficient to correct adverse yaw, and the airplane exited the runway to the left, and ground looped. In the process of reporting the accident, the pilot stated that perhaps this accident could have been prevented if perhaps a larger rudder with more authority during ground/low power would be of benefit. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the scene of the accident, postcrash examination of the accident airplane revealed no anomalies with the flight controls or the braking system. Runway 35 is an asphalt runway that is 2,688 feet long and 75 feet wide. The runway surface was dry at the time of the accident, and according to the pilot, the wind direction was variable, and the wind was calm. The Tampa, Florida, 1553, surface weather observation was winds from 290 degrees, at a speed of 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N424HD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N424HD), registered now, S/N 00030015, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EADS PZL WARSZA PZL-104M Wilga - Registry model: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104M WILGA 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/eads-pzl-warszawa-okecie-pzl-104m-wilga-2000) (registry code 7360320) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1b5) (registry code 41665, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 00030015 - Airframe hours: 444 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540K1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Island Century Media LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2006 - Departed: TPF, Tampa, FL - Destination: TPF - Airport: TPF, Peter O. Knight, runway 35, 2,688 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,130 total, 55 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 216 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: TPA ## 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 20070309005739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070309005739A), Mar 9, 2007: Eadsnv PZL104M2000, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 9, 2007, at 1711 EST, a wilga PZL-104M, registered to island century media LLC, experienced a ground loop and collapse of its right main landing… 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.