# NTSB WPR13CA220: Adolphson CCK-1865, N88XC, Bellingham, WA, May 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2013, 18:32 local (May 2, 2013, 01:32 UTC) - Place: Bellingham, WA - Coordinates: 48.792499, -122.537498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7925&lon=-122.5375&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 August 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA SEA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86841 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86841/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86841 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA220 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## 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: [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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the private pilot were performing practice takeoff and landings in the amateur-built experimental airplane so the pilot could provide an assessment of the airplane's handling qualities. The flight instructor reported that the pilot made a normal approach with full flaps and that the pilot made a "good landing with a normal touchdown." The pilot then commented that "it's skittish alright," and the airplane began to enter a ground loop. The flight instructor took over the controls, but the airplane exited the runway, continued through at least a portion of the ground loop, and dragged the right wingtip on the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to some right wing ribs and the right aileron. The flight instructor reported that the tower air traffic controller stated that the wind was "light and variable at 4 knots" about that time. The pilot reported that this was his first flight in the accident airplane make and model. Neither the flight instructor nor the pilot reported any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor and the private pilot were performing practice takeoff and landings in the amateur-built experimental airplane, in order to have the pilot provide an assessment of the airplane's handling qualities. The flight instructor reported that he had the pilot make a normal approach with full flaps, and the pilot made a "good landing with a normal touchdown." The pilot then commented that "It's skittish alright," and the airplane began to enter a ground loop. The flight instructor took over the controls, but the airplane exited the runway, continued through at least a portion of the ground loop, and dragged the right wingtip on the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to some right wing ribs and the right aileron. The flight instructor reported that the air traffic control tower stated that the wind was "light and variable at 4 knots" about that time. The pilot reported that this was his first flight in the accident airplane make and model. Neither the flight instructor nor the pilot reported a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N88XC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Adolphson CCK-1865 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCK-1865-0008 - Airframe hours: 1320 - Engines: Adolphson unk 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wheels Skis &Floats LLC - Registered owner: Wheels Skis &Floats LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 6, 2012 - Departed: BLI, Bellingham, WA - Destination: BLI, Bellingham, WA - Airport: BLI, Bellingham International, runway 16, 6,700 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 34,000 total, 15 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2013; seat: front; flight hours: 290 total, 0 in this make and model, 182 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.54 inHg - Observed at: BLI ## 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 20130501005929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130501005929A), May 1, 2013: Adolphson Tim E CCK-1865, Bellingham, WA, Substantial damage. On 5/1/2013 , at approximately 1832 PDT, an amateur built exp. Make: Adolphson Tim E, model: CCK-1865 aircraft, sustained substancial damage while performing a… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86841. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - METARs (item 3, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.PDF - Damaged Aileron Close Up (item 4, .PDF, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394278&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damaged%20Aileron%20Close%20Up-Master.PDF - Entire Aileron (item 5, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394279&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Entire%20Aileron-Master.PDF - Damaged Wing Rib (item 6, .PDF, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394280&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damaged%20Wing%20Rib-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.