SEA00LA058

The 61-hour pilot was executing a landing in his tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170B to a 2,900 foot long asphalt runway 16. Winds at a nearby airport were reported as 220 degrees magnetic at 12 knots, gusting to 22 knots. Just prior to touchdown, the aircraft drifted right of the centerline, touched down, bounced and the tail kicked right. On the third bounce the aircraft's right tire deflated. The aircraft continued to 'skip' down the runway veering further to the left and coming to rest 90 degrees to the centerline on the far left side of the runway. The pilot reported that he had recently acquired the aircraft and had approximately 13 hours of flight experience in tailwheel-equipped aircraft. He also commented that he had not flown in crosswind/gusty conditions of this magnitude during his flight experience, and that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft.

On March 28, 2000, approximately 1130 Pacific standard time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170B, N4653C, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control on landing touchdown/rollout at the Lopez Island airport, Lopez Island, Washington. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Bellingham, Washington, at 1100.

The pilot reported that he initiated his approach to runway 16 (2,900 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) "with 20 degrees of flaps and a little extra speed" and that "just prior to touchdown, the airplane drifted about 5 feet to the right of the centerline. I touched down around midfield. The plane bounced and the tail kicked to the right. The plane then re-touched down, bounced, the tail kicked farther to the right. On the third touchdown, the right tire blew... ." The pilot continued, stating that "the airplane then skipped down the runway on the right rim with the tail moving further to the right with each skip. In total, the plane skipped about 6 times on the rim, coming to rest 90 degrees to the runway on the far left side of the runway... ."

The pilot had noted that the right tire was a little low prior to his departure from Bellingham. Additionally, he report that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft.

The 1153 surface observation taken at Friday Harbor airport 5 nautical miles northwest of Lopez Island airport reported winds from 220 degrees magnetic at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots.

The pilot reported that he had recently acquired the aircraft and had approximately 13 hours of flight experience in tailwheel-equipped aircraft, and 61 hours of total flight experience. He also commented that he had not flown in crosswind/gusty conditions of this magnitude during his flight experience.