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PA18 pilot reports a momentary loss of control during landing due to a wind gust and inadvertent application of full power in the rough landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1024910 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201207 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-18/19 Super Cub |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Landing |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Sport / Recreational |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 27 Flight Crew Total 356 Flight Crew Type 210 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
Landing on runway 27 with ATIS reported wind 230 at 6. After touchdown during roll-out an abrupt very strong gust from the left lifted the left wing; I applied extra power to increase rudder authority; applied left stick and right rudder to maintain directional control. The upwind wheel was down and the other wheel slightly raised. Then the wind changed direction again and airplane replanted both wheels. This caused some jarring and my hand slipped forward off the throttle; but my wrist watch band caught the throttle causing it to momentarily go to full power. I immediately cut power; but the airplane lifted slightly and the right wingtip dragged momentarily on the runway. The problem was a freak gust and there's nothing anyone can do about that. My wrist watch is just a cheap timex which does not have a big wrist band and it fits snug. My sleeves were rolled up so it was not my shirt cuff. The one thing I will do different in the future is a) intentionally hold the throttle very tight when facing a turbulent landing. B) take off my watch prior to landing. It would have also helped if the tower reported the wind on short final with a statement such as 'strong crosswind gusts from the left.'
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA18 pilot reports a momentary loss of control during landing due to a wind gust and inadvertent application of full power in the rough landing.
Narrative: Landing on Runway 27 with ATIS reported wind 230 at 6. After touchdown during roll-out an abrupt very strong gust from the left lifted the left wing; I applied extra power to increase rudder authority; applied left stick and right rudder to maintain directional control. The upwind wheel was down and the other wheel slightly raised. Then the wind changed direction again and airplane replanted both wheels. This caused some jarring and my hand slipped forward off the throttle; but my wrist watch band caught the throttle causing it to momentarily go to full power. I immediately cut power; but the airplane lifted slightly and the right wingtip dragged momentarily on the runway. The problem was a freak gust and there's nothing anyone can do about that. My wrist watch is just a cheap Timex which does not have a big wrist band and it fits snug. My sleeves were rolled up so it was not my shirt cuff. The one thing I will do different in the future is A) intentionally hold the throttle very tight when facing a turbulent landing. B) Take off my watch prior to landing. It would have also helped if the Tower reported the wind on short final with a statement such as 'strong crosswind gusts from the left.'
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.