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Pilot error leads to ground loop

By NASA · October 22, 2024 · 3 Comments

This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.

Ground loop at low speed on landing. Minimal damage, aircraft was repaired and flown back to home airport the same day. No injuries to myself or passenger.

The S10 is an aerobatic tailwheel aircraft. I consider this pilot error on my part.

Conditions weren’t hard or easy, it was calm wind, thus highest landing speed but no crosswind, on hard surface, not grass. Gross weight was below max but with a passenger.

This aircraft requires fast and careful technique towards the end of the landing rollout to prevent a ground loop. It has a tandem bench seat that can be flown from the center when solo and to either side when carrying the one passenger. The visual picture is different, in particular determining what direction is exactly forward.

My recent experience flying from the left side with a passenger was weak, though I had deliberately flown from the left recently, repeatedly, in preparation. And had recently carried a passenger.

I have a telltale indicator on the cowling indicating the forward direction seen from the left seat, as I knew this is important for this plane.

Thinking back of the landing, I had not been paying attention to that indicator, and had not been using fast and correct enough technique on the rudder pedals to maintain stability on a hard surface runway. I would call that overconfidence from ~800 landings in this aircraft.

I will also be re-checking the alignment of the mains axles.

Primary Problem: Human Factors

ACN: 2119081

About NASA

NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) captures confidential reports, analyzes the resulting aviation safety data, and disseminates vital information to the aviation community.

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Comments

  1. Terk Williams says

    October 23, 2024 at 7:05 am

    In the aviation safety business it was sorta’ recognized that there is a cycle over every 800 hrs that tends to “predict” a period where we get a bit “lazy”. There is no max age/flt time. Knowing that cycle is running kinda helps me focus a bit more as I see that multiplier roll around…. Do your own math n see how you do… can’t hurt…😎

    Reply
  2. Bob says

    October 22, 2024 at 8:22 am

    I did the same thing. With 1000 hours in my Kitfox flying in all kinds of conditions, I damn near ground looped it the other day. Winds were light and variable….great weather. Complacency reared its ugly head. After a go around and return to airport, I taxied in to the ramp…shut it down …and sat there reflecting. How did this happen to me? The answer was I didn’t do what I always do and that’s….PAY ATTENTION! Fly the airplane all the way back to parking. Every flight is different. When you think you’ve seen it all, remind yourself that you’re not as good as you think you are….even after flying for 50 years!

    Reply
    • Some pilot says

      October 23, 2024 at 4:43 am

      Well said. I read many comments or articles where people talk about how many hours they have, as if that’s a prevention against accidents. Nope. Even the famous acrobatic pilot who was just killed – the news story said he had 10,000 hours. So?

      Reply

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