SEA03LA188

While landing, a gust of wind pushed the tail up causing the pilot to lose control of the airplane. During the ground loop to the left the right wing, empennage and center section of the of the airplane sustained substantial damage. There was also damage to the right landing gear and the tail wheel. The wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 230 degrees at 10 knots.

On September 10, 2003, approximately 1745 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160 single-engine airplane, N9332D, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while landing at the Billings Logan International Airport (BIL), Billings, Montana. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Great Falls, Montana, at 1600.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), and in a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that while landing "a gust of wind pushed the tail of the airplane beyond my control and I ground looped. The gust of wind could have been a dust devil." The airplane veered to the left 180 degrees resulting in the right wing impacting the runway and the right main landing gear collapsing up and under the center section of the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position oriented with the nose aligned in an southeasterly direction.

According to a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, the right landing gear was collapsed and the tail wheel was bent. The empennage, lower center section of the airframe, and right wing sustained substantial damage.

At 1756, the weather reporting facility at BIL reported the wind to be from 230 degrees at 10 knots.