Classic WACO N96T

Summary

On 9 July 2018 at about 15:00 local time, a Classic WACO registered N96T, operated by Executive Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 July 2018 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Grand Strand (CRE)

Coordinates

33.8117, -78.7239

Aircraft

Classic WACO

Registration

N96T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1993

Engines

1

Operator

Executive Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Myrtle Beach → North Myrtle Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA434

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a left quartering headwind. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after a three-point landing, the airplane began to "shudder" and veered left. He corrected by applying forward pressure to the control stick and right rudder, and the airplane's tailwheel raised off the runway, and the airplane regained the runway heading. As the airspeed decreased, the tailwheel touched down on the runway, and the airplane shuddered and veered left again. He corrected with right rudder, left brake and aileron, but the airplane ground looped to the left, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that, about 1 hour before the accident, the wind was from 340º at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airport's automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 340° at 8 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 5.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.