HOMER, AK, USA
N6966D
Piper PA-18
The pilot, holder of a student pilot certificate, was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a local area flight. He said he landed hard, the airplane bounced, and then ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear wheel rim was broken, and the right wingtip scraped the ground. The pilot said his total accrued flight time was about 55 hours, and he was uncertain if the airplane sustained any damage to the wing structure. One month later, an airplane mechanic notified the NTSB IIC, and reported that the right wing received damage to the wing spar.
On June 16, 2001, about 0855 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N6966D, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Homer Airport, Homer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot. The pilot, holder of a student pilot certificate, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Homer Airport, about 0830. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 18th, at 0940, the pilot reported he was landing on runway 21 at Homer. He said he landed hard, the airplane bounced, and then ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear wheel rim was broken, and the right wingtip scraped the ground. The pilot said his total accrued flight time was about 55 hours, and he was uncertain if the airplane sustained any damage to the wing structure. On August 8, 2001, an airplane mechanic from Homer telephoned the NTSB IIC and reported that he inspected the airplane. He said the right wing received damage to the wing spar. At 0853, June 16, 2001, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Homer was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 54 degrees F; dew point, 45 degrees F; altimeter, 30.23 inHg.
The student pilot's inadvertent ground loop. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of total experience.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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