PA-20 Pacer/PA-22 Tri-Pacer
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Total 3357; Flight Crew Type 13
Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Weather
During a training flight for the aircraft owner who is a low time private pilot with prior tailwheel experience in a different make/model; the pilot in command completed a full stall 3-point landing and was rolling out when the aircraft began drifting left of centerline; the student had full right rudder applied with the instructor also applying full right rudder and aircraft was not responding to the rudder command. Aircraft turned approximately 110 degrees in a skidding turn when the right main gear collapsed. The right wingtip contacted the runway and propeller struck the ground. Neither occupant was injured. Prior to the ground loop; the pilot completed two 3-point landings without incident or intervention by the instructor. Winds were approximately 8 knots about 10 degrees off runway heading. An eye witness said the windsock turned 90 degrees about the time of touchdown. The windsock was not in view to the pilot or instructor from the position of the loss of control. The aircraft is a modified Piper PA20 Pacer with a 180 HP engine with constant speed prop; vortex generators; droop tips; and tundra tires. The aircraft is more difficult to control than a standard PA20 due to the excessive pitch response to power changes and the pilot has little experience with operating a constant speed propeller tending to rely on audible feedback while making power adjustments rather than using the manifold pressure gauge resulting in unstable and inconsistent power application in the final approach phase.Author of this report is the instructor.
PA20 instructor reported loss of control on landing resulting in ground loop and aircraft damage.