GA small aircraft tail dragger ground loop after landing at rhv in a crosswind.

Attributes
ACN	198942
Time
Date	199201
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rhv
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 340 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	198942
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While attempting to correct for a crosswind, the left wing of the aircraft rose up. In trying to correct this condition, it is believed that the pilot relaxed back pressure on the stick which allowed the tailwheel to come up, and the aircraft to subsequently wxvane into the wind. The aircraft then left the runway to the left, and came to a stop in the grassy area between runway 31L/right. Factors that may have effected pilot performance were that crosswind exceed personal limit of 10 KTS. Secondly, the pilot had only 2 hours tailwheel currency in last 30 days, 5 hours currency is best for maintaining proficiency in tailwheel aircraft. Finally, the recommended procedure of using wheel lndgs in a crosswind is not best for low time tailwheel pilots. In terms of the human factors, pilots must stay current, strictly adhere to personal limits, and use proper technique.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA TAIL DRAGGER GND LOOP AFTER LNDG AT RHV IN A XWIND.

Narrative: WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT FOR A XWIND, THE L WING OF THE ACFT ROSE UP. IN TRYING TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PLT RELAXED BACK PRESSURE ON THE STICK WHICH ALLOWED THE TAILWHEEL TO COME UP, AND THE ACFT TO SUBSEQUENTLY WXVANE INTO THE WIND. THE ACFT THEN LEFT THE RWY TO THE L, AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE GRASSY AREA BTWN RWY 31L/R. FACTORS THAT MAY HAVE EFFECTED PLT PERFORMANCE WERE THAT XWIND EXCEED PERSONAL LIMIT OF 10 KTS. SECONDLY, THE PLT HAD ONLY 2 HRS TAILWHEEL CURRENCY IN LAST 30 DAYS, 5 HRS CURRENCY IS BEST FOR MAINTAINING PROFICIENCY IN TAILWHEEL ACFT. FINALLY, THE RECOMMENDED PROC OF USING WHEEL LNDGS IN A XWIND IS NOT BEST FOR LOW TIME TAILWHEEL PLTS. IN TERMS OF THE HUMAN FACTORS, PLTS MUST STAY CURRENT, STRICTLY ADHERE TO PERSONAL LIMITS, AND USE PROPER TECHNIQUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.