# NTSB SEA07LA020: Cessna 170B, N2619D, Billings, MT, November 18, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 18, 2006, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Billings, MT - Coordinates: 45.807777, -108.542778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8078&lon=-108.5428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64961/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA020 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve during takeoff roll. A factor was the failure of the pilot who was receiving instruction to maintain directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The winds were from 220 degrees at 12 knots for the instructional flight. The first takeoff and landing on runway 28R in the tailwheel-equipped airplane were uneventful. According to the private pilot receiving instruction, he added power to begin the second takeoff roll, and the airplane "began to weathervane to the left into the wind." He stated that he "did not apply enough right rudder or right brake to avoid/overcome the left turning tendency the crosswind and P-Factor caused." He reduced power to idle, and with the airplane moving at a speed of 10 to 15 knots heading about 30 degrees left of runway heading, the pilot receiving instruction "took out the full left aileron deflection [he] was holding since [they] were now pointing into the wind and actually went partial right aileron." At this point, the flight instructor took control of the airplane. However, the instructor was unable to regain directional control, and the airplane swerved to the left, the left wing lifted, and the right wing struck the runway. ## Factual narrative On November 18, 2006, about 0830 mountain standard time, a Cessna 170B, N2619D, sustained substantial damage when its right wing tip contacted the ground following a loss of control during takeoff roll on runway 28R at Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. The three people aboard, a private pilot receiving instruction, the flight instructor, and one passenger, were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated about 0815 from Billings Logan International Airport. The pilot receiving instruction reported that they were planning to fly from Billings to Columbus, Montana, but at the flight instructor's suggestion they decided to perform a few stop and go landings at Billings before proceeding to Columbus. The winds were from 220 degrees at 12 knots. The first takeoff and landing on runway 28R in the tailwheel-equipped airplane were uneventful. According to the pilot receiving instruction, he added power to begin the second takeoff roll, and the airplane "began to weathervane to the left into the wind." He stated that "he did not apply enough right rudder or right brake to avoid/overcome the left turning tendency the crosswind and P-Factor caused." He reduced power to idle, and with the airplane moving at a speed of 10 to 15 knots heading about 30 degrees left of runway heading, the pilot receiving instruction "took out the full left aileron deflection [he] was holding since [they] were now pointing into the wind and actually went partial right aileron." At this point, the flight instructor took control of the airplane. However, the instructor was unable to regain directional control, and the airplane swerved to the left, the left wing lifted, and the right wing struck the runway. The flight instructor did not respond to a written request from the NTSB investigator-in-charge for a written statement. According to an FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2619D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2619D), registered now, S/N 20771, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170B - Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20771 - Airframe hours: 2755 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven J. Inman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006 - Departed: BIL, Billings, MT - Destination: BIL - Airport: BIL, Billings Logan International, runway 28R, 10,518 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 256 total, 103 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: BIL ## 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 20061118024189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061118024189A), Nov 18, 2006: Cessna 170B, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Directional control lost during touch-and-go landing; aircraft ground-looped. Directional control lost during takeoff following stop and go landing.… ## Other investigations on N2619D (3) 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 WPR13CA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA117), Feb 6, 2013: Cessna 170B (N2619D), Sunburst, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for the strong, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during takeoff. - [NTSB SEA05CA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA135), Jun 28, 2005: Cessna 170B (N2619D), Laurel, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's diverted… - [NTSB DEN78DTC28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78DTC28), Jun 28, 1978: Cessna 170B (N2619D), Rock Springs, WY, substantial damage 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.