Bellingham International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bellingham, Washington 98226
Saturday, June 4, 2011 12:13 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that his traffic pattern approach and touchdown on the runway were normal. The pilot stated that he lost directional control during landing rollout in his conventional gear airplane as he was transitioning from rudder effectiveness to tailwheel steering. Thereafter, the airplane ground looped and nosed over bending the rudder and firewall. The pilot also reported that no mechanical problems were experienced with his airplane during the mishap.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1213
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Bellingham
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98226
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 484734N
Event Location Longitude 1223215W
Event Location Airport Bellingham International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BLI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 170
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1203 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BLI
Elevation of weather observation facility 170
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
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) 28677
NTSB Notification Source NM ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 8 2011 2:57PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N118PS
NTSB Number WPR11CA247
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIEBER PAUL P
Aircraft Model NIEUPORT 11
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 009
Certified Max Gross Weight 850
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats 0
Passenger Seats 0
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 2 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 148
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SNOWIE J ALLAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BELLINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98225-8462
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name SNOWIE J ALLAN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BELLINGHAM
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98225-8462
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 WN35
Departure City Ferndale
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BLI
Destination City Bellingham
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 8 2011 2:57PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 6701
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --