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GAA17CA451

2017-07-28 · Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport OSH

Current FAA registration · N410BP

Make / Model
AVIPRO AIRCRAFT LTD BEARHAWK
Year of manufacture
2012 · 5 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O-360 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20120209
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4D447

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, when "transitioning from rudder to braking the tail started rapidly swinging to the left due to wind." He added that "rudder correction was ineffective" and he applied wheel brakes, but the airplane continued in the ground loop clockwise, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, about the time of the accident, at the accident airport, reported wind from 040° at 8 knots. The pilot reported that while on short final the air traffic tower controller announced, "wind 050 at 12." The pilot added that the landing was on runway 36. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, when "transitioning from rudder to braking, the tail started rapidly swinging to the left due to wind." He added that "rudder correction was ineffective," and he applied wheel brakes, but the airplane continued in the ground loop clockwise, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the accident airport reported, about the time of the accident, wind from 040° at 8 knots. The pilot reported that, while on short final, the air traffic tower controller announced, "wind 050 at 12." The pilot added that the landing was on runway 36. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA451.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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