SEA00LA145

Factual narrative

On July 27, 2000, about 2000 mountain daylight time, a Root Sherpa, N1415B, registered to the builder, and flown by a private pilot as a 14CFR91 personal/pleasure flight, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll at Helena Regional Airport, Helena, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation. The flight originated from Scappoose Industrial Airport, Scappoose, Oregon, approximately 1630 Pacific daylight time. The pilot stated that he was landing the tail wheel equipped aircraft on a dry paved runway. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft began to drift left of runway centerline. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, but the aircraft ground looped. The aircraft's right main landing gear and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. The private pilot was landing the tail wheel equipped aircraft on a dry paved runway. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft began to drift left of runway centerline. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, however, the aircraft ground looped. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12