Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot executed a three point landing and was on rollout when the aircraft's nose yawed to the right. He applied left rudder but was unable to stop the aircraft from ground looping. The aircraft ran off the right side of the runway, encountered rain softened terrain, and nosed over onto its back. Winds were reported as westerly from 3 to 5 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 19, 1996, at 1030 hours Pacific daylight time, a Boeing-Brown, E75NL, N5862V, ground looped, ran off the runway, and nosed over while landing at Columbia Airport, Columbia, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damaged and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by Inter Mountain Helicopter, Inc., when the accident occurred. The local flight originated in Columbia at 1000 on the morning of the accident. The pilot reported visual meteorological conditions with light westerly winds at the time and that no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported his approach to landing as uneventful. He executed a three point landing and was on rollout when the aircraft's nose yawed to the right. He applied left rudder but was unable to stop the aircraft from ground looping. The aircraft ran off the right side of the runway, encountered rain softened terrain and nosed over onto its back. He estimated a 3- to 5-knot right crosswind. A postaccident examination of the aircraft was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspectors. They found no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions and provided confirmation of substantial damage on May 24, 1996. -