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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 24, 2012 · Burleigh Bearhawk · N117Z

Heber City, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 24, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Heber City, UT
Aircraft
Burleigh Bearhawk
Tail Number
N117Z
Operator
Edwin Thiel
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR12LA290

The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown and during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Full Narrative

On June 24, 2012, about 1030 mountain daylight time, a Burleigh Bearhawk amateur built airplane, N117Z, ground looped during the landing roll at the Heber City Municipal Airport, Heber City, Utah. The pilot, who additionally owned the airplane, was operating it under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed from Heber City about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that after a 30-minute local flight he returned back to the airport to land. Shortly after touchdown and during the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot further stated that he believed that he lost controllability due to a tailwheel malfunction. He noted that he had experienced prior problems with the tailwheel shimmying. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector performed an examination of the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure with the landing gear system. He noted that if there was some shimmy or it had spun around, it would still be possible to control the airplane. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for Provo Municipal Airport, Provo, Utah, about 20 miles from the accident on a bearing of about 220 degrees, reported that the wind was from 100 degrees at 4 knots about 20 minutes after the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 MDT
Nearest AirportHeber City Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway04
Runway Length6899 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBurleigh Bearhawk
Tail NumberN117Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEdwin Thiel
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A4D5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 55 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 4 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C
Altimeter30.03 inHg
Observation Time17:49
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data