Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-15 near Plainwell, MI — 2009-08-15

Final reportCEN09CA548
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Date
2009-08-15
Location
Plainwell, MI, USA
Airport
61D
Aircraft
PIPER PA-15
Registration
N4380H
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of control on takeoff for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he began the takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a left quartering headwind. He stated that during the takeoff roll a wind gust caused the airplane to swerve. He attempted to abort the takeoff and the airplane ground-looped. During the event, the right main landing gear collapsed and the wing tip struck the runway, damaging the wing structure. A weather reporting station located 18 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded the wind 7 minutes before the accident as being from 190 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Fifty-three minutes after the accident time the same weather station recorded the wind speed as 7 knots gusting to 14 knots and direction as variable between 130 degrees and 200 degrees. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed a failure of the left steering spring chain link. It could not be determined if the chain link failure occurred prior to or during the accident sequence.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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