Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve during takeoff roll. A factor was the failure of the pilot who was receiving instruction to maintain directional control.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On November 18, 2006, about 0830 mountain standard time, a Cessna 170B, N2619D, sustained substantial damage when its right wing tip contacted the ground following a loss of control during takeoff roll on runway 28R at Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. The three people aboard, a private pilot receiving instruction, the flight instructor, and one passenger, were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated about 0815 from Billings Logan International Airport.
The pilot receiving instruction reported that they were planning to fly from Billings to Columbus, Montana, but at the flight instructor's suggestion they decided to perform a few stop and go landings at Billings before proceeding to Columbus. The winds were from 220 degrees at 12 knots. The first takeoff and landing on runway 28R in the tailwheel-equipped airplane were uneventful. According to the pilot receiving instruction, he added power to begin the second takeoff roll, and the airplane "began to weathervane to the left into the wind." He stated that "he did not apply enough right rudder or right brake to avoid/overcome the left turning tendency the crosswind and P-Factor caused." He reduced power to idle, and with the airplane moving at a speed of 10 to 15 knots heading about 30 degrees left of runway heading, the pilot receiving instruction "took out the full left aileron deflection [he] was holding since [they] were now pointing into the wind and actually went partial right aileron." At this point, the flight instructor took control of the airplane. However, the instructor was unable to regain directional control, and the airplane swerved to the left, the left wing lifted, and the right wing struck the runway.
The flight instructor did not respond to a written request from the NTSB investigator-in-charge for a written statement.
According to an FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained structural damage.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA07LA020