| Crash location | 27.915556°N, 82.449166°W |
| Nearest city | Tampa, FL
27.947522°N, 82.458428°W 2.3 miles away |
| Tail number | N424HD |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 09 Mar 2007 |
| Aircraft type | EADS PZL WARSZA PZL-104M Wilga |
| Additional details: | None |
On March 9, 2007, about 1600 eastern standard time, an Eads PZL Warsawa-Okecie SA, model PZL -104M Wilga 2000, experimental amateur-built airplane, N424HD, registered to, and operated by Island Century Media LLC, as a Title 14 CFR part 91, aerial observation flight, ground looped during while landing at Peter O'Knight Airport, Tampa, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. the commercial-rated pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Tampa, Florida, the same day, about 1400
The pilot stated that he and his crew had flown to downtown Tampa, Florida, filming video, and he returned to his departure airport and affected a normal three-point landing within the first 1/3 of runway 35. He said he applied normal braking to slow the airplane and "the right brake system lost pressure and failed." He further stated that this caused the airplane to yaw left , and he applied full right rudder and released the left brake. He said that full control application was insufficient to correct adverse yaw, and the airplane exited the runway to the left, and ground looped. In the process of reporting the accident, the pilot stated that perhaps this accident could have been prevented if perhaps a larger rudder with more authority during ground/low power would be of benefit.
According to the FAA inspector who responded to the scene of the accident, postcrash examination of the accident airplane revealed no anomalies with the flight controls or the braking system.
Runway 35 is an asphalt runway that is 2,688 feet long and 75 feet wide. The runway surface was dry at the time of the accident, and according to the pilot, the wind direction was variable, and the wind was calm. The Tampa, Florida, 1553, surface weather observation was winds from 290 degrees, at a speed of 9 knots.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop and damage to the airplane.