# NTSB SEA00LA145: Root Sherpa, N1415B, Helena, MT, July 28, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2000, 20:00 local (Jul 28, 2000, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Helena, MT - Coordinates: 46.530239, -112.210815 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5302&lon=-112.2108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49835/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA145 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private pilot was landing the tail wheel equipped aircraft on a dry paved runway. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft began to drift left of runway centerline. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, however, the aircraft ground looped. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2000, about 2000 mountain daylight time, a Root Sherpa, N1415B, registered to the builder, and flown by a private pilot as a 14CFR91 personal/pleasure flight, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll at Helena Regional Airport, Helena, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation. The flight originated from Scappoose Industrial Airport, Scappoose, Oregon, approximately 1630 Pacific daylight time. The pilot stated that he was landing the tail wheel equipped aircraft on a dry paved runway. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft began to drift left of runway centerline. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, but the aircraft ground looped. The aircraft's right main landing gear and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1415B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1415B), registered now, S/N 0012, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Root SHERPA - Registry model: [Root Byron L SHERPA](https://openairdocs.org/model/root-byron-l-sherpa) (registry code 05623QX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0012 - Airframe hours: 1450 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-720 399 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Byron L. Root - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2000, 30 hours before - Departed: SPB, SCAPPOOSE, OR - Destination: HLN - Airport: HLN, Helena Regional Airport, runway 27, 11,000 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 648 total, 53 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 4° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HLN ## 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 20000727005099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000727005099A), Jul 27, 2000: Helena, MT, No damage. (-23) PIC stated at stall speed, he bounced on tundra times then dropped on ewing on aircraft and spun around on the ashalt. Hot temperature-wind not a factor… ## Other investigations on N1415B (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX07LA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA280), Sep 18, 2007: Root Sherpa (N1415B), Scappoose, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of aircraft pitch control due to the fatigue failure of the fuselage tube structure at the flight control stick gimbal mechanism due to an incomplete weld penetration at the root of the weld. 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.