Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172 near Bellingham, WA — 2019-02-25

Final reportGAA19CA148
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Date
2019-02-25
Location
Bellingham, WA, USA
Airport
BLI
Aircraft
CESSNA 172
Registration
CFHGQ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Taxi

Probable cause

The pilot's improper crosswind correction during taxi operations in gusting crosswind conditions.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway for takeoff with the yoke "left and push[ed] in," a wind gust from the right lifted the right wing. The pilot was unable to maintain control and the wind continued to push the airplane to the left off the runway. The airplane subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated surface observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 030° at 20 knots, gusting to 29 knots. The pilot was turning the airplane right onto runway 34. Based on this information, the calculated crosswind component while taxiing into takeoff position was about 19 knots. The airplane manufacturer reported that the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 15 knots. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B, "Taxiing" stated, in part, the following: When taxiing with a quartering headwind, the wing on the upwind side (the side that the wind is coming from) tends to be lifted by the wind unless the aileron control is held in that direction (upwind aileron UP). Moving the aileron into the UP position reduces the effect of the wind striking that wing, thus reducing the lifting action. This control movement also causes the downwind aileron to be placed in the DOWN position, thus a small amount of lift and drag on the downwind wing, further reducing the tendency of the upwind wing to rise.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have adjusted ailerons to counteract wind during taxi.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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