The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped Cessna 170 at the airport in Missoula, Montana, the airplane began to veer to the left. He applied corrective control inputs, and the flight instructor called for him to abort the takeoff, but the airplane ground looped as it departed the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron.
Both pilots were flight instructors, and the pilot at the controls was receiving instruction for his tailwheel endorsement.
The flight instructor providing instruction stated that the event happened too fast for him to correct the diversion.
Probable Cause: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground-loop, and the flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the pilot.
This December 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Several years ago I taught a young student in a Citabria. He was solo’d at about 12 hours at a busy field. At about his 16 hour mark someone else Ground looped the machine rendering it unairworthy. So we continued his training in a C152. After 2hours (1 with upper airwork and the second in the traffic pattern with touch and go’s) I solo’d him again. I have had several instructors with only tricycle experience take up to 10 hours to do the same.
Tailwheel teaches proper rudder control.
We lost a couple of CFIs a few years back due to unknown circumstances. Each was administering a flight review for the other. I did the same for a friend and CFI and our preflight briefing was very specific about the 2 instructors scenario, who would be the PIC and who would be expected to do what. All went well as it should have.
A CFI where I was a new hire was giving me a checkout in a Baron.
He said be sure to shutdown the right engine.
He then killed the left.
I shutdown the right.
I learned to use different words. Words like correct or failed. Not left or right.
Barons glide fine and the engines restarted quickly.
Taking off from a 9500’ paved runway, at 3200’ MSL, with no wind, in a relatively heavyweight 170B, with a stock 145 hp O-300 and the ‘standard’ 7653 prop, should be a fairly docile event. You’re not going to run out of “right rudder”….
Not to point fingers, but the instructor doing the instructing also had very limited time in this “make and model”.
It does reinforce the oft-repeated “lesson learned” that any takeoff, even in the world’s most forgiving taildragger, has ambushes waiting to happen.
Still a beautiful plane; fortunately damage wasn’t fatal & they walked away.
(On a happier note; Merry Christmas to all you “usual suspect” commenters!)
Very likely the CFI giving the other CFI to tailwheel checkout was too relaxed expecting better rudder control from the ” student. ” CFI.
Did tons of flights with other instructors for evaluations and 141 approvals. That is exactly what tends to happen. We use to joke that a two instructor crew may be the worst combination one could have.
Mmmm. Could it be too much throttle, too fast? Perhaps a gopher hole? Nice looking 170.