# NTSB SEA07LA075: Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C2, N418MS, Reno, NV, March 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2007, 17:09 local (Mar 11, 2007, 01:09 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.498889, -119.768058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4989&lon=-119.7681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65434 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65434/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA075 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a groundloop. ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) lost directional control of the airplane during landing and it groundlooped. The CFI assumed control of the airplane on the approach into the airport. During the landing, the airplane bounced twice and groundlooped. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator examined the airplane's control systems following the accident, and there were no mechanical malfunctions to result in a loss of directional control. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2007, at 1709 Pacific standard time, a Found Aircraft Canada, FBA-2C2, N418MS, groundlooped during landing on runway 16L at the Reno Tahoe International Airport, Reno, Nevada. The airplane was registered to a private company and operated as a personal training flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) seated in the left seat, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Reno Tahoe International Airport at 1430 for the local area instructional flight. No flight plan was filed. According to the CFI, the PUI and his wife hired the CFI to provide flight training in the airplane. He was providing instrument instruction to the PUI during the accident flight. As they were returning to Reno, the PUI told the CFI that he was exhausted and could not continue to fly the airplane. The CFI assumed control of the airplane and performed the landing. As the tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down on runway 16L, it bounced and veered to the left. The CFI stated that he applied right rudder with no response and the airplane groundlooped. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained damage to the right wing. The PUI reported in a written statement that the CFI was hired to instruct he and his wife for instrument ratings. They departed Reno at 1430 to practice several approaches. On the last approach at 1715, the CFI was demonstrating the instrument landing system (ILS) runway 16R approach. The PUI indicated that during the beginning of the approach it was agreed that the CFI had control of the airplane. As the CFI approached the airport, the tower controller requested that they change to runway 16L, and the PUI believed that the airplane was coming in flat. During the landing, the airplane bounced twice. On the second landing, the airplane veered to the left. The CFI then added power and the airplane came to rest on its right wing and gear. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator examined the control system following the accident. All control movements produced corresponding movement to the control surfaces. The inspector noted no mechanical malfunctions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Aircraft - Registration: [N418MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N418MS-2016-04-28), registration cancelled 2016-04-28, S/N 101, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C2 - Registry model: [Found Acft Canada FBA-2C2](https://openairdocs.org/model/found-acft-canada-fba-2c2) (registry code 3640104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-L1C5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-l1c5) (registry code 41782, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 101 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Textron Lycoming IO-540-L1C5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carwil LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 1, 2006, 100 hours before - Departed: RNO, Reno Int'l, NV - Destination: RNO, Reno, NV - Airport: RNO, Reno Tahoe Int'l Airport, runway 16L, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2006; flight hours: 7,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 297 total, 67 in this make and model, 96 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: RNO ## 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 20070310004149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070310004149A), Mar 10, 2007: Found FBA2C2, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) During a telephone interview conducted on March 12, 2007, with the pilot, [privacy data omitted] he stated that he was demonstrating an ILS approach for… ## Other investigations on N418MS (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 LAX08CA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA041), Dec 22, 2007: Found Acft FBA-2C2 (N418MS), Holbrook, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. 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.