N35226

Substantial
None

PIPER J3LS/N: 6221

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, January 13, 2018
NTSB Number
GAA18CA108
Location
Astoria, OR
Event ID
20180115X40753
Coordinates
46.161388, -123.640274
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The control stick handgrip separation from the control stick resulting in the airplane pitching forward, which resulted in hard landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
6221
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1944
Model / ICAO
J3LJ3
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
J3L-65

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
ISAAC TIMOTHY S
Address
868 CORSAIR DR
City
INDEPENDENCE
State / Zip Code
OR 97351-9435
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, he was flying the tailwheel-equipped airplane from the rear seat. During the landing flare, with the control stick in an aft position, the control stick's rubber handgrip slipped off, allowing the stick to move forward. Before he could recover the stick, the airplane pitched down, and landed hard.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, the forward lower fuselage and the longerons in the tail section.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA108