NTSB Factual Report

On July 29, 2001, about 1610 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Fokker F-1, N220TP, was substantially damaged while landing at the Old Rhinebeck Airport, Rhinebeck, New York. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, as he was landing on the south runway, a 2,200-foot long, 75-foot wide, grass runway, the airplane "ballooned" upward before touching down. The pilot added power and the airplane settled down onto the runway. As the airplane was rolling out, it suddenly ground looped to the left side of the runway. The pilot regained control of the airplane by turning to the right. During the turn, the left wing dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over, before coming to rest inverted.

The pilot added that the airplane's landing gear consisted of skids, and no brakes were installed.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook, "The pilot must be alert for directional control difficulties immediately upon and after touchdown due to the ground friction on the wheels. The friction creates a pivot point on which a moment arm can act. Loss of directional control may lead to an aggravated, uncontrolled, tight turn on the ground, or a ground loop. The combination of centrifugal force acting on the center of gravity (CG) and ground friction of the main wheels resisting it during the ground loop may cause the airplane to tip or lean enough for the outside wingtip to contact the ground. This may even impose a sideward force which could collapse the landing gear."

The winds reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident were, from 130 degrees at 10 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, resulting in an inadvertent ground-loop. A factor related to the accident was the crosswind conditions.