Felts Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spokane, Washington 99206
Tuesady, September 30, 2008 16:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the airplane bounced and became airborne after landing firmly on the runway. As the airplane settled back onto the runway it veered to the left despite his control inputs. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway and ground looped. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wings were structurally damaged. The tail wheel rudder spring attachment bolts were found separated and were located on the runway. The fracture surfaces of the bolts were consistent with overload. The pilot reported no pre accident anomalies with the flight control system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s misjudged landing flare that resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the impact related failure of the tail wheel spring attachment bolts due to overload, which resulted in a ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/30/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Spokane
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99206
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 474035N
Event Location Longitude 1171921W
Event Location Airport Felts Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1953
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SFF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1953
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24563
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 23 2008 12:44PM
User who most recently changed record ricj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10402
NTSB Number SEA08CA214
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LAIRD
Aircraft Model LC-1B-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 188
Certified Max Gross Weight 3022
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 11 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 1700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HOWARD LARRY E
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GREENACRES
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99016-9753
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HOWARD LARRY E
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GREENACRES
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99016-9753
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code WN92
Departure City Spokane
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code WN92
Destination City Spokane
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 23 2008 12:44PM
User who most recently changed record ricj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21L
Runway Length 3059
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --