Accident Details
On July 11, 2017, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185E airplane, registration N185LC, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll at Nampa Municipal Airport in Nampa, Idaho. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant and the registered owner-operator, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country trip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had departed Kooskia Municipal Airport in Kooskia, Idaho, about 1345 Pacific daylight time.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, while landing on runway 29, he was unable to maintain directional control of the tail-wheeled airplane after encountering a quartering tailwind gust from the right. The airplane subsequently ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. At the time of the accident, the reported wind was from 350 degrees magnetic at 11 knots, which calculated to a 10-knot right crosswind. The pilot reported that he did not listen to the airport's automated weather observing system report prior to landing.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by a certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The examination revealed no anomalies with the tail wheel assembly, rudder, or control continuity with the rudder that would have precluded normal operation.