Military Trainer
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 13; Flight Crew Total 467; Flight Crew Type 33
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Procedure
During the second approach in pattern; upon touch down; this tail wheel aircraft began to ground loop; and during recovery and maintaining directional control on runway; right wing tip skin and small corner of right lower aileron skin was scraped on the runway surface. No structural safety issues were apparent. Although airspeed and approach was correct and stable; I believe the cause was due to beginning the flare too soon; about 6 FT higher than normal; resulting in a slightly greater descent; and very low airspeed and low rudder effectiveness; than anticipated by the pilot. Preventative action should have been to make a go-around the pattern. Corrective action will be to continue to practice good landings in the aircraft; both solo and with dual instruction; and increase hours flown in this aircraft; as the pilot last flew this aircraft over 4 months ago and has relatively low time with this somewhat hard to land aircraft.
A N3N pilot ground looped the aircraft and scraped a small section of the right wing tip and aileron on the runway after flaring too high and loosing control of the aircraft at touchdown.