Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

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J31
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by J31 »

pelmet wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:53 am I believe the Yukon can be tailwheel or tricycle gear.

"C-GTNZ, an Amateur-built amphibious Murphy Yukon, landed at Chilliwack (CYCW), BC. The
airplane exited the runway on the right side into the grass when the left main wheel brake failed.
The Airport Manager responded and arranged for the aircraft to be towed to the apron.
It was determined that the left side brake pads separated because they were excessively worn
which allowed the brake caliper piston to move out of its position and for brake fluid to leak onto
the disk."
Wow! I would say...NO maintenance!
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pelmet
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

Summary:
C-GAUT, a Bellanca 7GCBC operated by Prairie Aviation Training Center, was conducting a solo
cross country flight from Three Hills, AB (CEN3) and returning to CEN3 with one pilot on board.
The wind conditions at the time of the landing were estimated to be approximately 15 knots 70
degrees off of runway heading. During the landing roll, the pilot was unable to maintain directional
control of the aircraft and the aircraft entered a ground loop, coming to rest in a nose down position
off of the side of the runway. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft sustained damage to the right
wingtip, right aileron and aileron spade, right main landing gear, propeller and cowl.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

CF-PHA, a privately registered Volmer Jensen Amphibian VJ 22, was conducting circuits at Victoria
Intl (CYYJ), BC with only the pilot on board. On landing, the aircraft bounced and on the second
contact, directional control was lost and the airplane exited the side of the runway. The right wing
struck a distance remaining sign which was knocked off of its base. The pilot was not injured but
the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting attended the scene and
assisted in moving the aircraft.

The airplane will be assessed to determine the extent of the damage.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=volmer+j ... =609&dpr=1
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pelmet
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FFRB, a Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C1 operated by Hoarfrost River Huskies Ltd., was on a
maintenance flight from Hay River (CYHY), NT to Fort Nelson (CYYE), BC with only the pilot on
board. During the landing roll in CYYE, the pilot experienced some tail wheel shimmy, and during
the attempted control of the shimmy, directional control of the aircraft was lost, and a low speed
ground loop ensued. The aircraft came to a rest in a snowbank beside the runway. There were no
injuries, and the aircraft sustained minor damage.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FRAL, a privately operated Corben Baby Ace homebuilt aircraft, was conducting a local flight
from Summerside Airport (CYSU), PE. Upon landing on runway 23 at CYSU, the pilot planned to
stop as short as possible so as to be able to quickly vacate the runway for another inbound aircraft.
The pilot unintentionally applied asymmetric heel brakes and the tail-wheel aircraft yawed nose left
at a rate that could not be arrested. The rapid yaw caused the landing gear to skid on the runway,
and the right wing tip struck the runway surface. The subsequent return motion in the roll direction
caused the left wing tip to also strike the runway, and the aircraft then nosed over causing a
propeller strike and sudden engine stoppage. The aircraft came to rest about 30 feet to the left of
the center of the runway. The pilot was the sole occupant, and egressed the aircraft without injury.
The winds were from approximately 210 degrees magnetic at less than 10 knots windspeed.
The aircraft sustained major damage, with a right-hand flying wire that failed in tension, substantial
damage to the right wing tip, and the destruction of the propeller.
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pelmet
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

Don't know the weather or winds that day, but there is no doubt that a sudden airport closure can leave you with unpalatable options....

C-GPRB, a privately registered Pitts S1S (Pitts Special), was conducting a local aerobatic flight
from Vernon (CYVK) BC, with only the pilot on board. During the flight, the runway at CYVK was
closed due to an airplane having landed gear up. The pilot diverted to Salmon Arm (CZAM) BC,
where, in a cross wind, the aircraft ground looped. The airplane departed the runway to the right,
nosed down and came to rest on the propeller, left main gear, and the left wing. The pilot released
himself from his harness and parachute system, and egressed. There were no injuries.
A maintenance company recovered the aircraft which was disassembled for ground transportation.
The initial inspection revealed that the left main landing gear was bent, the left-wing tip was
scraped, the propeller was fractured, and both wheel pants were damaged. Further examinations
will be conducted to determine the extent of the repairs that will be required.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FDYB, a privately registered Globe GC-1B, was attempting to depart from a residential road in
vicinity of El Paso, Texas with only the pilot on board. The directional control of the airplane was
lost on takeoff and the airplane hit a fence and a rock wall. The airplane sustained substantial
damage to both wings. The pilot suffered serious injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of United States is conducting an investigation.
(NTSB reference number CEN22LA226).
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-GBAZ, a privately registered Bellanca 8GCBC aircraft operated by the Air Cadet League of
Canada, was landing on the infield grass south of Runway 26 at the Brandon Muni (CYBR), MB
airport with the pilot and 1 passenger on board. During the landing roll, the aircraft ran into a
puddle of water, nosed over, and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot and passenger
were able to evacuate the aircraft without injury and were taken to a local hospital for observation,
as a precaution. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The DND's Directorate of Flight Safety
is investigating.


It is nice to have walked a grass strip or to get a pirep before using it.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

Not a ground handling accident but thought I would include it anyways......

C-GGAP, a privately registered Piper PA-22 aircraft, with an instructor and student pilot onboard
was on the approach to land on Runway 09 at Stirling, Ontario (CPJ5). The instructor was the pilot
flying; as the aircraft approached the tree tops, the approach became unstable due to mechanical
turbulence and a reported tailwind. The instructor performed a go-around and brought the aircraft
around for a second approach, this time into the prevailing wind on Runway 27. The instructor
attempted to go-around again as it was determined the touchdown would be further down the
runway than expected. The instructor added full power for a go-around, the engine sputtered, and
lost power. The aircraft touched down on the remaining runway, went off the end of the runway,
down a slope, through a fence and into some trees. Both occupants exited the aircraft without
injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-GGOJ, an Acro Sport II aircraft, landed at Fergus Juergensen Field (CPG7), ON with a 10-15
knot 90 degree crosswind. During the landing roll the aircraft began to weathercock, the pilot was
unable to maintain control and the aircraft exited the right side of the runway into a wheat field. The
right wing contacted the wheat spinning the aircraft and collapsing the left main gear. The left lower
wing separated from aircraft and the fuselage broke near the lower left wing attachment. There
were also indications of a possible prop strike. The pilot was not injured.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-GDDJ, a Wilderness Seaplanes Grumman G21A (Goose) was conducting a passenger flight
from Port Hardy (CYZT), BC, to the Wuikinuxv airstrip (60 nautical miles north of CYZT) with the
pilot and 4 passengers on board. After touchdown at Wuikinuxv, when the tailwheel was lowered,
the plan began to drift to the left. The pilot took corrective action but was unable to remain on the
centerline and the plane veered into the soft shoulder as it slowed down. The passengers and the
pilot disembarked from the aircraft without injury.

Company maintenance were dispatched to inspect the aircraft and determined that the only
damage was some scratches on the keel. The plane was recovered to the hard surface of the
airstrip and returned to service.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FFND, an amateur built, Champion L16 Replica (MS-L16A), was landing on a private runway
near Mooretown, Ontario. During the approach, the pilot encountered gusty wind conditions, and
had difficulty keeping the aircraft on the approach centerline. After touchdown, control of the
aircraft was lost and the right main wheel went off the runway edge, into the soft dirt, causing the
aircraft to ground loop. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; there were no injuries.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FQPH, an amateur built Denney Kitfox IV equipped with tundra tires and conventional landing
gear, was flying from Plattsville Airport/Lubitz Flying Field (CLB2), Ontario to Kincardine Airport
(CYKM), Ontario, with the pilot being the sole occupant. During touchdown on runway 13 at CYKM
with the wind calm, control was lost and the aircraft began to ground loop. An attempt was made to
go-around, but the aircraft was already out of control. The aircraft came to rest in a field near the
runway, where the pilot exited the aircraft with minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FTXD, a Kitfox IV-1200 equipped with a tail wheel, was conducting a high speed taxi test at
Shupe Field, a private unregistered grass strip approximately 16nm ESE of Saugeen Municipal
Airport (CYHS), Ontario, with the pilot as the sole occupant. While taxiing at speed taxi in gusty
crosswind conditions, control was lost, and the aircraft departed the runway into an area of long
grass; both main landing gear failed, resulting in a prop strike. The pilot exited the aircraft and was
uninjured.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FHPD, a privately owned Van's RV-6 was landing on a private grass runway 3 nautical miles
west of Paris, ON, lined on both sides by corn that was approximately 4 feet high. After touchdown,
the aircraft's right wing contacted the corn on the right side and the aircraft ground looped and
came to stop. The two occupants on board were not injured, but the aircraft received substantial
damage to the left wing, propeller and left main landing gear. The ELT was automatically activated
and JRCC responded to the scene. The wind was calm at the time of the accident.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by pelmet »

C-FQHJ, a privately registered Luscombe 8E, was conducting a training flight at Winters Aire Park
- Indus (CFY4), AB. On short final for Runway 09 the instructor took control from the student to
initiate a go-around. During the go-around the aircraft lightly contacted the runway surface so the
instructor continued with the landing. During the roll out the right hand landing gear collapsed and
the aircraft veered off of the right side of the runway. Winds were from the 150 degrees true at 10
knots (CYYC METAR). There were no injuries and the instructor and student exited the aircraft on
their own. The plane was recovered to the student's hangar at the aerodrome.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by photofly »

I don't know about anyone else who flies a taildragger, but all I can think of each time I land is to hope I don't end up in this thread. It's quite threatening!
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DId you hear the one about the jurisprudence fetishist? He got off on a technicality.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by PilotDAR »

Taildraggers are much less forgiving of pilot lack of certainty, or last second change in plan. If you're making it up as you go along, you may end up just going along! Always have a plan - "It'll be a wheel landing, and will be flown as such, even if the tailwheel briefly touches". Or, "It'll be a three point, and my bounce recovery plan will be...". "I've a crosswind from the (L/R) so I'm going to plant the (L/R) mainwheel first, and hold it there, while maintaining directional control and the runway centerline", and allowing the plane to slow".

I've seen too many taildragger landings which appeared to be "some of this, and some of that". The problem is that as the flight changes from "this" to "that", the airplane is probably not entirely in control, and will be much harder to get back once too far out of control.
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by Inverted2 »

I’ve flown one for 24 years. Never had a ground loop (knock on wood). I’ve decided not to fly many times when it’s too windy. I also gave up hull insurance 10 years ago so I’m extra careful. :lol:

Remember if your feet aren’t always moving those rudder pedals you aren’t doing it right. :!:
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Re: Taildragger Noseover/Groundloop Thread

Post by JasonE »

PilotDAR wrote: Wed Aug 03, 2022 8:06 amI've seen too many taildragger landings which appeared to be "some of this, and some of that". The problem is that as the flight changes from "this" to "that", the airplane is probably not entirely in control, and will be much harder to get back once too far out of control.
This is spot on. The worst tailwheel landings I've witnessed (aside for initial tailwheel training) are when the pilot changes his plan or mind in the last few seconds. Never turns out well, usually with a go-around.
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"Carelessness and overconfidence are more dangerous than deliberately accepted risk." -Wilbur Wright
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