Military
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 26000; Flight Crew Type 25
Confusion; Workload
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure; Weather
On short final I saw the wind sock showed a 90 degree wind from the left at about 5 knots or so. During landing roll after a smooth full stall landing the airplane began to drift left. I applied right rudder and some left aileron; which did not stop the left turning. I then applied right brake which did not stop the left turning tendency resulting in a ground loop hitting the right wing tip and engine cowling and one blade of the wood prop. The gear on the Stinson aircraft hangs way down during flight and compresses about two feet when the aircraft is fully on its gear. I suspect that because the landing was smooth and light; the gear was not compressed all the way and the right tire must have dug in at a slight angle exacerbating the left turning weathervaning tendency. I had all the right rudder and enough right brake to skid the tire; but was unable to stop the left turning ground loop. To prevent this I would recommend landing the Stinson L-5 firmly so that the airplane transitions quickly to fully compressed gear legs. I understand there is a cable retrofit on some Stinsons that prevent the gear from hanging down so far. This aircraft was not equipped with that retrofit.
A Stinson L-5 pilot lost control while landing in a slight crosswind and ground looped the aircraft resulting in striking the prop and engine cowl. Landing gear strut extension may have contributed to the aircraft weathervaning.