SEA01LA086

While landing at an airstrip where terrain conditions dictated the use of only one runway, the pilot was landing with what he thought was a light tailwind. Just as he was about to start his landing flare from about 10 feet above the ground, the aircraft encountered a tailwind gust. The aircraft immediately started to drop toward the runway surface, and before the pilot could apply power to arrest the rate of descent, the aircraft impacted the runway surface with sufficient force to cause substantial damage.

On May 6, 2001, approximately 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna U206, N29147, landed hard at Flying M Airstrip, Yamhill, Oregon. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Aurora State Airport about 10 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, who was landing at an airstrip where terrain conditions dictate landing only on runway 25, there was what appeared to be a light tailwind blowing while he was on final to the turf runway. Reportedly, just about the time he was going to start his flare from about 10 feet above the ground, the aircraft encountered a tailwind gust of about 15 mph. The aircraft immediately began to sink, and before the pilot could add power to arrest the sink rate, the aircraft impacted the runway surface. The force of the impact was such that the nose gear fork sheared, allowing the nose gear strut to dig into the terrain. The forces exerted on the aircraft during the ensuing deceleration resulted in substantial damage.

A note in the Air Guide Publications Flight Guide states that the airstrip is in a canyon with mountains surrounding it, and that winds may be variable. An additional note states "Tailwind operations not recommended."