Accident Overview
On 9 September 2013, at approximately 1945 local time, a Piper Aircraft PA-19, registration LN-ACL, experienced a loss of control during landing at Gjerstad farm, east of Skarnes in Sør-Odal municipality, Norway. The aircraft was operated by Nedre Romerike Flyklubb and was being flown by a 52-year-old male pilot holding a Private Pilot License (A). He was the sole occupant and sustained minor injuries, including a small cut on his forehead. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, engine cowling, windshield, wings, wing struts, and rudder. A crop of grain in the field where the aircraft came to rest was also damaged.
Flight History
The flight was for self-training. The pilot departed from Kjeller Airport (ENKJ) around 1800 and flew northeast to Haga airfield, a private grass strip in Nes municipality, where he landed. He then continued to another private grass strip, Maarud airfield in Sør-Odal, where he landed twice. All three landings were uneventful. He then proceeded to Gjerstad farm, which has a private grass strip oriented 01-19. The strip is approximately 400 m long and 16 m wide, well-maintained, with a gentle slope from both ends and the highest point inside the southern threshold. There are no physical obstructions in the runway extension. To the west of the runway was a grain field and then forest; farm buildings lie to the east.
Landing Sequence
During the approach from the south to runway 01, the pilot felt the aircraft was too high and fast. He aborted the approach, flew over the runway, turned east around the farm, and prepared a new approach to runway 01. On the second approach, he flew at 55 kt, while the recommended final approach speed per the aircraft checklist is 48 kt (1.3×Vs). The pilot described touching down near the highest point of the runway. After touchdown, the aircraft bounced and yawed left. He applied some throttle to keep the nose up but was unsuccessful. Directional control was lost as the aircraft lost altitude. The wheels contacted the grain field on the left side of the runway. Speed rapidly reduced in the tall crop, and the aircraft nosed over onto its back. The pilot remained suspended by his seatbelt but managed to release it. The emergency locator transmitter activated; the pilot turned it off along with the master switch. He exited the aircraft unaided.
Investigation Findings
The Accident Investigation Board (SHT) examined the site. The first main wheel contact with the runway was 78 m from the threshold of runway 01. Subsequent contacts occurred at 108 m, 160 m, and 198 m, each progressively closer to the western runway edge, with the last contact 1 m into the grain field. From that point, the aircraft rolled 34 m on its main wheels before nosing over. The aircraft was righted and removed from the field that evening with assistance from the flying club.
The pilot had previously landed at Gjerstad during his tailwheel checkout on 11 August of the same year. Gjerstad is the shortest runway the club normally permits for operation after checkout. The pilot completed his Private Pilot License (A) in March 2011 and undertook tailwheel training in August 2012, but the checkout was completed after a one-year gap in August 2013. He flew about ten hours of instruction and performed 98 takeoffs and landings in tailwheel aircraft: 60 in August 2012 and 38 in one day in August 2013. The pilot felt the instruction hours were sufficient but noted that completing the training in two periods with a year-long gap was unfortunate, as skills did not consolidate. After passing the tailwheel checkout on 11 August, he flew once two days later; the next flight was the accident flight on 9 September.
Probable Cause
The investigation concluded that the loss of control during landing was due to incorrect landing technique not being used. Contributing factors were the training for the tailwheel checkout being conducted in two periods with a long gap and a lack of continuity and recency after checkout.
Operator Actions
Following the accident, Nedre Romerike Flyklubb tightened operational procedures effective 5 November 2013: pilots with less than 30 hours as pilot-in-command on tailwheel aircraft must have at least one flight in the preceding 30 days (previously 90 days); the entire tailwheel checkout program must be completed within the same season (calendar year); club aircraft may only be operated at approved airfields (minimum described in Jeppesen VFR manual, with dispensation possible from the operations leader); and the club recommends that pilots flying vintage aircraft, including Piper Cubs, consider using helmets to prevent head injuries.