N8335V

On August 4, 1998, at 1340 hours Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N8335V, ground looped during landing on runway 16R at the Van Nuys, California, airport. The aircraft, operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and a passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local area personal flight and no flight plan was filed.

Winds reported by ATIS at the time of the accident were from 130 degrees at 8 knots.

The pilot stated that the reported winds were from 100 degrees at 10 knots. He was informed that he would be number two for landing behind a Saberliner and to "maneuver accordingly." He kept the traffic insight until after the landing aircraft had taxied off the active runway. He reported that the Saberliner used the full length of the runway for landing.

The pilot reported that the final approach and touchdown were uneventful and that he was applying left aileron and right rudder to compensate for the existing crosswind. He noted his airspeed was less than 40 mph when the tail wheel of the aircraft touched down on the runway. The pilot stated that the control stick was almost in the full aft position when the left wing rose and the aircraft appeared to pitch up. The aircraft descended on to its right side and the right main gear collapsed inboard. The right wing tip caught and the aircraft ground looped on the runway.

A pilot witness to the accident stated that ATIS was reporting the winds from 130 degrees at 8 knots. He had landed in front of the Saberliner and taxied to parking. He shut his aircraft down and then walked back toward the runway to watch the accident aircraft land. The Saberliner touched down in front of him, just short of the tower. His location on the runway was between taxiway's 10E and 11E. The witness reported that the accident aircraft's approach was stable, with the left wing low to correct for the crosswind. The aircraft touched down, left main first, with the right main in the air continuing crosswind correction.

The witness reported that the pilot lowered the right main gear followed by the tail wheel. He stated that "almost immediately, the left wing started to rise as if hit by a gust." The aircraft turned to the left and the left wing came back down, then began to rise again. The aircraft turned to the right and the right main landing gear strut collapsed. The right wing struck the runway and came to rest after sliding a short distance on the runway.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector inspected the aircraft on-scene. He stated that the landing gear attach bracket showed evidence of failure due to an over stress event. No further discrepancies were noted with the aircraft or aircraft records. All witnesses that were interviewed stated that the landing appeared to be normal.