NTSB Factual Report

On December 22, 2002, at approximately 1600 central standard time, a Cessna 170A tail-wheel equipped airplane, N1392D, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a loss of control while landing on Runway 17 at the West Helena Municipal Airport (HEE), near West Helena, Arkansas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated at 1500 from Clarksdale, Mississippi (CKM).

In a telephone interview with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, the 850-hour pilot stated that after an uneventful flight from Clarksdale, he "landed hard" on Runway 17 at HEE and executed a go-around to set up for another approach/landing. Upon landing, the airplane ground looped and skidded off the runway to the left, in a 45-degree angle. The pilot further stated that he believed the airplane had "blown" the right tire during the first hard landing, and upon touch down after the go-around, the blown tire contributed to the groundloop.

Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, noted a bent propeller blade and the landing gear had jammed, resulting in structural damage to the landing gear box.

At the time of the accident, the winds at HEE were reported from 170 degrees at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear sky, temperature at 16 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 4 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the Investigator-In-Charge at 428 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the deflated tire.