N8276C

On April 2, 1995, at 1445 hours Pacific daylight time, N8276C, a Piper PA-22 airplane with a tailwheel conversion, ground looped on takeoff in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and was substantially damaged. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to an FAA aviation safety inspector from Hillsboro, Oregon, the pilot stated that he held the control yoke all the way back while adding power for takeoff from runway 13 at the Klamath Falls International Airport. As the speed of the airplane increased, the pilot moved the yoke forward to raise the tail. Before the tail rose, the airplane ground looped to the left. The pilot also stated that he applied full rudder and no brakes in an attempt to prevent the ground loop. The left side of the fuselage and firewall structure were bent. An examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector did not reveal evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.