WPR17LA162

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel airplane during the landing roll.

The airline transport pilot reported that, during the landing roll in the tailwheel airplane, he was unable to maintain directional control after encountering a quartering tailwind gust from the right. The airplane subsequently ground looped, causing substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the tailwheel assembly, rudder, or control continuity to the rudder that would have precluded normal operation.

On July 11, 2017, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185E airplane, N185LC, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll at Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight. The flight departed Kooskia Municipal Airport, Kooskia, Idaho, about 1345 Pacific daylight time. According to the pilot, during landing on runway 29, he was unable to maintain directional control of the tail-wheeled airplane after encountering a quartering tailwind gust from the right. The airplane subsequently ground looped and the left wing sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident, the reported wind was from 350° magnetic at 11 knots, which calculated to a 10 knot, right crosswind. The pilot reported that he did not listen to the airport's automated weather observing system report, prior to landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane, by a certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no anomalies with the tail wheel assembly, rudder, or control continuity with the rudder that would have precluded normal operation.