Summary
On September 02, 2001, a Bellanca 7GCAA (N5042D) was involved in an incident near Bridgeport, CA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the tail wheel equipped aircraft during landing roll which resulted in a ground loop.
On September 2, 2001, at 0913 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, N5042D, was substantially damaged during a landing ground loop at Bryant Field, Bridgeport, California. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The personal flight was operated by Sierra Flyers, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed from Minden, Nevada, at 0820. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he landed the airplane on runway 16 (4,329 feet long x 60 feet wide). The tail of the aircraft bounced violently and the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder and some power; however, the airplane drifted off the east edge of the runway and ground looped when the right main landing gear entered dense brush.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX01LA301. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5042D.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the tail wheel equipped aircraft during landing roll which resulted in a ground loop.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On September 2, 2001, at 0913 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, N5042D, was substantially damaged during a landing ground loop at Bryant Field, Bridgeport, California. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The personal flight was operated by Sierra Flyers, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed from Minden, Nevada, at 0820. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he landed the airplane on runway 16 (4,329 feet long x 60 feet wide). The tail of the aircraft bounced violently and the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder and some power; however, the airplane drifted off the east edge of the runway and ground looped when the right main landing gear entered dense brush. The right landing gear was torn off and the right-hand wing contacted the ground during the ensuing ground loop. In his report to the Safety Board, in the section "Mechanical Malfunction Failure," the pilot checked "no." He also reported the wind was calm.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX01LA301