Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On April 13, 2003, approximately 1830 mountain daylight time, a Maule MX-7-235, N44UG, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Everitt Airpark, Parker, Colorado, approximately 1800.

According to the pilot's accident report, he wanted to practice crosswind landings. The wind was light at Everitt Airpark, but the AWOS at Front Range Airport reported the wind to be from 140 degrees at 13 knots. He decided to fly to Front Range for crosswind landing practice. The flight to Front Range Airport had been uneventful. He made a normal crosswind approach and landing on runway 17. The wind at Denver International Airport, located 10 miles to the northwest, was from 110 degrees at 12 knots. Upon touchdown, the pilot held full left aileron and full aft elevator and maintained directional control with the rudder. As the airplane rolled out, it began drifting to the right, so the pilot reduced right rudder input. The nose "swung left quickly" into the wind and the pilot applied full right rudder. The airplane ground looped to the left, tearing off the right main landing gear. The pilot said he suspected that the tail wheel was or had become unlocked. According to an FAA inspector, the right wing tip was scraped, the propeller was bent, and both wings were "rippled."

The Wind Component chart was consulted. Using the pilot's wind estimated and the recorded wind at Denver International Airport, the computed crosswind component was approximately 7 knots and 10 knots, respectively. According to a Maule Aircraft Company spokesman, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the MX-7-235 is 14 knots. the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll out. Contributing factors were the unlocked tailwheel.