N6535E

On April 30, 2000, about 0845 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 185F, N6535E, was substantially damaged while landing at the Pottstown Limerick Airport, Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and commercial pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the CFI, the pilot receiving instruction flew over the airport to verify the wind conditions and entered the traffic pattern for Runway 28, a 3,371-foot long, 75 foot wide, asphalt runway. While landing, the airplane bounced once on the main landing gear and began a rollout. Control positions of left rudder, right aileron, and elevator transitioning to full up, were inputted for the crosswind condition. After about 500-600 feet into the rollout, the airplane began to veer to the right. Both of the pilots applied full left rudder and the airplane departed the right side of the runway, into a grass area. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane pitched forward before coming to rest upright.

According to the pilot, this was his second instructional flight in the airplane. After the airplane landed, it had decelerated considerably until a swerve developed to the right. The pilot counteracted the swerve with the remaining amount of left rudder and then began "feeding in left brake." The airplane had not changed its heading of more than 30 degrees, when the CFI commanded the pilot to "get off the brakes." The airplane continued to swerve off the right side of the runway and accelerated into a ground loop.

Federal Aviation Administration publication FAA-H-8083-3, Airplane Flying Handbook stated, "If the airplane touches down while drifting or in a crab, the pilot should apply aileron toward the high wing and stop the swerve with the rudder. Brakes should be used to correct for turns or swerves only when the rudder is inadequate. The pilot must exercise caution when applying corrective brake action because it is very easy to overcontrol and aggravate the situation."

The pilot reported 4 hours of total flight experience in make and model.

The winds reported at the airport, at 0854, were 320 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots.