Event
On May 15, 2016, at approximately 2100 central daylight time, a Cessna T206H airplane, registration N80TK, sustained substantial damage while landing at False River Regional Airport (HZR) in New Roads, Louisiana. The aircraft was operated by Los Cazadores Aviation LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight had originated from Jackson County Airport (JCA) in Jefferson, Georgia, at about 1700. At the time of the accident, night visual meteorological conditions were present, and no flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 18 and selected 10 degrees of flaps. After aligning on final approach, he added another 10 degrees of flaps. Following touchdown on the 5,003-foot by 75-foot asphalt runway, the airplane began to shake and veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder input but was unable to arrest the leftward movement. The airplane subsequently departed the runway surface, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and firewall.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The accident aircraft was a Cessna T206H. The pilot held a Class 3 medical certificate that had expired approximately eight months prior, and his flight review was about four months overdue. No information was provided regarding the pilot's total flight experience.
Examination
An FAA inspector examined the airplane after the accident. The nose tire was found to be correctly inflated with no evidence of wear, cuts, or bruises. The nose strut assembly was properly filled with hydraulic fluid and contained the correct air pressure (80 psi) when fully extended; no leaks were observed. A steering continuity check was performed and no anomalies were detected. The airframe examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Statement and Reference
The pilot reported that the airplane had been shaking on previous landings. He expressed the opinion that if he had applied more back-elevator control, the accident would probably not have occurred. The FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook describes a condition known as wheelbarrowing, which occurs when the airplane's weight becomes concentrated on the nosewheel during takeoff or landing roll. This condition can lead to a loss of directional control because braking becomes ineffective and the airplane tends to swivel or pivot on the nosewheel. One common cause is simultaneous touchdown of the main and nosewheel with excessive speed, followed by forward elevator pressure. The handbook advises that correcting the situation typically involves smooth application of back-elevator pressure, or if runway conditions permit, initiating a go-around.