# NTSB WPR09LA472: American Legend AL3, N18MK, Fresno, CA, September 28, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 2009, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Fresno, CA - Coordinates: 36.776111, -119.718055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7761&lon=-119.7181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA472 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74818/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74818 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA472 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane veered to the right during the landing roll in calm winds and after the tailwheel was lowered to the runway pavement. Attempts by the pilot to correct back to the left were unsuccessful, which resulted in a ground loop to the right and substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Post accident examination of the airplane’s tailwheel assembly, rudder controls and associated rudder cables revealed no anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2009, about 0845 Pacific daylight time, a tailwheel equipped American Legend Aircraft Company AL3 light sport airplane, N18MK, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing roll at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), Fresno, California. The private pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, departed FAT about 0745. In a written statement submitted to the Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that after making a two-point landing on runway 11R and keeping the airplane on the centerline using both rudder pedals, the tail wheel came down as the airplane slowed. The pilot stated that he then applied right rudder to maintain a straight direction, and then applied left rudder, but “…the left rudder would not move.” The pilot further stated that the airplane continued to the right, although he was applying left rudder. The pilot added, “I did a 180-degree turn to the right until coming to a full stop.” As a result of the ground loop the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that he was concerned about what caused the airplane to veer to the right, the right rudder “locking down,” and the left rudder pedal being inoperative. In a statement submitted to the IIC by a certificated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airframe and powerplant mechanic, the mechanic reported that he completed repairs and reassembly of the airplane on May 12, 2010. The mechanic stated that prior to the installation of the original tailwheel assembly, he disassembled the unit and inspected it for any signs of damage or wear that would explain its possible failure to provide directional stability. The mechanic reported that he found little or no evidence of abnormal wear to the tailwheel yoke assembly, and that while the wheel bearings were loose causing “a bit of wobble” about the axle which may cause a shimmy, all other components were normal, and the unit showed no signs of jamming. The mechanic further reported that on May 13, 2010, he conducted a number of test flights, landing both in the “three wheel” configuration and “wheel landing” [configuration]. The mechanic stated that he also made two flights with a 190-pound passenger in the rear seat, which replicated the accident flight, and that “…the aircraft, although controllable, was ‘very twitchy’ on landing. As soon as the tail wheel touched down the aircraft attempted to ‘dart’ one direction and then the other, requiring quick rudder input to stabilize directional control.” On October 9, 2009, accompanied by the airplane’s pilot/owner, the IIC inspected the airplane at the pilot’s hangar located at FAT. The IIC confirmed the reported damage to the left wing and fuselage.Inspection and operation of both rudder pedals and associated rudder cables revealed no anomalies which would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18MK), registered now, S/N AL-1084, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Legend Aircraft Co. AL3 - Registry model: [American Legend AL3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (registry code 060002K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AL-1084 - Airframe hours: 240 - Engines: Teledyne-Continental Motors O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mahlon D. Buck - Registered owner: Mahlon D. Buck - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2009, 20 hours before - Departed: FAT, Fresno, CA - Destination: FAT, Fresno, CA - Airport: FAT, Fresno Yosemite International, runway 11R, 7,205 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 1,277 total, 240 in this make and model, 1,277 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: FAT ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74818. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331717&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF 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.