On November 18, 2006, a Cessna 170B (registration N2619D) was involved in an aviation accident near Billings, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve during takeoff roll. A factor was the failure of the pilot who was receiving instruction to maintain directional control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an instructional flight, the airplane weathervaned left on takeoff. The pilot did not apply enough right rudder or brake, and the instructor could not recover. The right wing struck the runway.
Event Overview
During an instructional flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the winds were reported from 220 degrees at 12 knots. The first takeoff and landing on runway 28R were uneventful. For the second takeoff, the private pilot receiving instruction added power and the airplane began to weathervane to the left into the wind.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that he did not apply enough right rudder or right brake to overcome the left turning tendency caused by the crosswind and P-Factor. He reduced power to idle, and with the airplane moving at 10 to 15 knots and heading about 30 degrees left of runway heading, he released the full left aileron deflection he had been holding and moved the ailerons to partial right. At that point, the flight instructor took control of the airplane.
Loss of Control
The instructor was unable to regain directional control. The airplane swerved left, the left wing lifted, and the right wing struck the runway.