Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a North American T-6G Harvard, registration G-BKRA, manufactured in 1951. It was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-1340AN-2 piston engine. The flight was a private solo trip from Gloucestershire Airport to Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon, with a planned return. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence, was 39 years old, and had 672 total flying hours, including 25 hours on type. His recent flying experience included 10 hours in the last 90 days and 2 hours in the last 28 days.
Accident Sequence
On 8 April 2003 at 1130 UTC, the pilot contacted Dunkeswell by telephone before departure and was advised that Runway 05 was in use and that parachuting might be occurring. The weather at Dunkeswell was reported as CAVOK with a surface wind generally from 100° at 10 knots. The transit was uneventful. Upon arrival, the pilot attempted to contact 'Dunkeswell Radio' but received no acknowledgement. Instead of overflying to check the wind due to parachuting activity, he elected to join a right-hand downwind for Runway 05. He observed another light aircraft ahead following the same procedure and decided to make a wider circuit to maintain spacing.
On the downwind leg, the pilot lowered two stages of flap and the landing gear. After turning onto final approach, he lowered full flap and reduced speed to 85 mph. He reported no turbulence or significant drift and did not see the windsock. He considered his approach normal. The aircraft rounded out and touched down on all three wheels at the intended point on the runway centreline. Immediately after touchdown, the aircraft began to swing to the left. The pilot applied right rudder, and the aircraft initially tracked down the centre but then swung to the right. Despite applying left rudder, the pilot could not prevent a ground loop to the right. Throughout the ground roll, the pilot held the control stick in a neutral position.
Pilot Comments and Weather
The pilot reported that prior to this flight, he had not experienced unexpected directional departures. He had accumulated about 450 hours of tailwheel flying experience and believed the ground loop was associated with landing a tailwheel aircraft on a paved runway rather than grass. The remote weather station at Dunkeswell recorded an average surface wind from 120° at 9 knots between 1000 and 1200 hours.
Damage
The aircraft sustained slight damage to the left wingtip and landing gear. The pilot was not injured.