SEA01LA132

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-22-160 · Friday Harbor, WA · July 14, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 14, 2001, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
Place
Friday Harbor, WA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N8158DPiper PA-22-160
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 20, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - Seattle FSDO
FAA report
20010714020809A
Case key
52718

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skidLanding
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Gear collapsedLanding

Analysis

The aircraft had been converted to a tailwheel landing gear configuration. The pilot reported that he touched down level with no bounce at approximately 65 MPH. He stated that about 100 feet down the runway, the left wing "picked up". He stated that he applied full left aileron, right rudder and brake, but that the airplane veered to the left, the right gear collapsed and the wingtip hit the ground. The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. The pilot reported a total flight time of 146 hours including 61 hours in make and model, including 85.7 total hours (45.4 hours make and model) of pilot-in-command time.

Factual narrative

On July 14, 2001, approximately 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160 airplane, N8158D, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged in a ground loop and ensuing right main landing gear collapse during landing on runway 16 at Friday Harbor, Washington. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions, with winds from 130 degrees true at 5 knots, were reported at Friday Harbor at 1053. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight from Arlington, Washington.

The aircraft had been converted to a tailwheel landing gear configuration. The pilot reported that he touched down level with no bounce at approximately 65 MPH. He stated that about 100 feet down the runway, the left wing "picked up". He stated that he applied full left aileron, right rudder and brake, but that the airplane veered to the left, the right gear collapsed and the wingtip hit the ground. The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. The pilot reported a total flight time of 146 hours including 61 hours in make and model, including 85.7 total hours (45.4 hours make and model) of pilot-in-command time.

According to the U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory, Friday Harbor's single runway, 16-34, is 3,400 feet long, 75 feet wide, and asphalt-surfaced.

Aircraft

Registration
N8158D
Reported as
Piper PA-22-160
Category
Airplane
Serial number
22-5649
Airframe hours
1,605
Engine
Lycoming O-320-B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2000 · 184 hours before
Departed
AWO · Arlington, WA
Destination
FHR · Friday Harbor, WA
Airport
FHR · Friday Harbor, runway 16, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
49
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
July 1, 1999
Flight hours
146 total · 61 in this make and model · 86 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 50 °F
Altimeter
30.12 inHg
Observed at
FHR

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N8158D · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.