Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot reported that he overcorrected for the right veer, which resulted in a ground loop to the left, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The firewall and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He further noted that the accident could have been prevented had he used smaller control inputs in response to the initial veer to the right.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 25, 2011, at 1430 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built VanDenburg Pietenpol Air Camper airplane, N16DV, was substantially damaged while landing at Sawyer International Airport (KSAW), Gwinn, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed KSAW at 1330. The pilot reported that the landing approach to runway 1 (12,366 feet by 150 feet, concrete) was uneventful and that the airplane touched down on the runway centerline with ample runway remaining. During the landing roll the tailwheel-equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot reported that he "over corrected" for the right veer which resulted in a ground loop to the left. The left main landing gear collapsed during the ground loop. The firewall and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He further noted that the accident could have been prevented had he used smaller control inputs in response to the initial veer to the right. At 1450, the airport's automated surface observing system reported the following weather conditions: wind 080 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dew point 8 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 29.92 inches of mercury.