Accident Piper PA-15 N4380H, Saturday 15 August 2009

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Date:	Saturday 15 August 2009
Time:	13:00 LT
Type:	Piper PA-15
Owner/operator:
Registration:	N4380H
MSN:	15-165
Year of manufacture:	1948
Total airframe hrs:	1472 hours
Engine model:	Continental C85-12
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Plainwell, Michigan - United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Plainwell, MI (61D)
Destination airport:	Plainwell, MI (61D)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot reported that he began the takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a left quartering headwind. He stated that during the takeoff roll a wind gust caused the airplane to swerve. He attempted to abort the takeoff and the airplane ground-looped. During the event, the right main landing gear collapsed and the wing tip struck the runway, damaging the wing structure. A weather reporting station located 18 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded the wind 7 minutes before the accident as being from 190 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Fifty-three minutes after the accident time the same weather station recorded the wind speed as 7 knots gusting to 14 knots and direction as variable between 130 degrees and 200 degrees. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed a failure of the left steering spring chain link. It could not be determined if the chain link failure occurred prior to or during the accident sequence.

Probable Cause: A loss of control on takeoff for undetermined reasons.

Accident investigation: