# NTSB WPR21LA120: Piggott John H Bearhawk, N347JP, Eatonville, WA, February 27, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 27, 2021, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Eatonville, WA
- Coordinates: 46.870772, -122.25717
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8708&lon=-122.2572&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102701
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102701/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA120

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piggott John H BEARHAWK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056132I), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piggott John H BEARHAWK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056132I), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piggott John H BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=056132I), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piggott John H BEARHAWK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056132I), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing in a tailwheel equipped airplane, it appeared to him that the wind was calm during the approach. Soon after landing, he reported hitting a bump in the runway along with a wind shear resulting in a loss of directional control. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the airplane exited the runway to the right and ground looped in the runway safety area, coming to rest upright. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left-wing tip and left aileron were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N347JP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N347JP), registered now, S/N 347, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIGGOTT JOHN H BEARHAWK
- Registry model: [Piggott John H BEARHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/piggott-john-h-bearhawk) (registry code 056132I) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 347
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 138
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 17, 2020, 112 hours before
- Departed: 49WA, Yelm, WA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 2W3, Swanson, runway 16/34, 2,990 × 36 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2019; flight hours: 19,566 total, 96 in this make and model, 12,285 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 15 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 20210227003179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210227003179A), Feb 27, 2021: Piggott John H BEARHAWK, Eatonville, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot exerienced directional control issues on landing & ground looped due to high winds.

## Other investigations on N347JP (2)

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 WPR12CA388](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA388), Sep 2, 2012: Piggott John H Bearhawk (N347JP), Sequim, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing.
- [NTSB SEA06CA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA157), Aug 5, 2006: Piggott Bearhawk (N347JP), Port Angeles, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of directional control as a result of the disconnected tail wheel steering system, which led to an inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll.

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.

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