First Solo , First Ground Loop

S

sierrasplitter

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Sep 18, 2018
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Yep, you read it right Got my endorsement Thursday, went flying for my first solo Monday. Got eight three point touch and go's and four wheel landings in. On the final wheel landing I was keeping the tail off as long as possible. I though I had calm wind but it must have started blowing , but not much. Left wing started lifting ever so slightly and then the aircraft started heading for Taxiway Mikes sign and a taxiway light. Luckily it turned the opposite direction before it left the runway and then went across to the other side ......then a slow ground loop. No damage to the aircraft , never left the runway.
You can guess how I'm feeling right now. I have been told by everyone who flies a tailwheel that you will ground loop at some point
Do you think the fact it happened on my first solo is a message?
really worried about the next solo......after a few more hours with the CFI
Thoughts?
 
Not a message. Taildragging requires skills that are only well developed after hundreds of landings in all sorts of wind. We solo students with maybe 70 landings under their belt. Once in a while the inevitable burble will turn into a ground loop. Get another hour in the pattern and try again. Work first on full stalls.
 
Just a thought, I don’t think it was the wind that did it. 12 landings is a lot in any airplane let alone a tailwheel. It sounds like you fell behind the airplane from being tired whether you felt fine or not. You’ll be fine the next time! Go out and fly and have some fun with it, then do a few landings and call it a day. Not 12!
 
Change your shorts and get back out there. You got off cheap.

I would agree that a dozen landings would be pushing my attention span. I do 4-7 on a typical weekday when I can get to my plane in the evening.

The lesson you were supposed to learn is that you can't drop your guard until the hangar door is closed.
 
I do three a day minimum. Since Monday I haven't been able to buy a decent landing. I did two really good landings in a 180 Monday, and since then nada.

I agree -12 is too many the first time out. Five max. But once you get comfortable, 12 is ok. We did 20 in the Stearman last week, and in August the count was around 32 in several aircraft. Great fun.

Oh - and ease in to crosswinds. Don't expect to be good at it with ten or twenty hours total tailwheel.
 
I don't know if it makes a difference as far as alertness but they were touch and go's except the final one. Total time was 1 hour.
I got my PPL to do more grass and dirt than paved runways . I have to get this dialed in. I'm not too interested in the 100 dollar hamburger runs in a 172
I get back on the horse this afternoon , with an Instructor. Should I be making them all full stop landings at this point ?
And yes , no crosswind at this point. Which means early morning weekends ( if the marine layer clears before the wind kicks up) or late evening.
 
I start with touch and goes, and even low approaches, but yes, at this point you need full stops each and every time. If it means taxi back at a controlled field it will cost you more for the instructor. Worth it.

The last part of a wheel landing can be tricky. Your tail is descending at speeds lower than those in a full stall, so you don't have as much rudder authority. Work mainly on full stalls for a while.

You are at the stage where one good session should straighten you out.

Opinion.
 
You need some Cub time. Easy at MYF.

I am after Plus One to "up" the requirements for solo. I think it should be 15 hours of dual pattern time. If we do the Cessna 180, I am recommending 10 hours in the pattern in the Super Cub before touching the big Cessna.

A tailwheel endorsement usually comes at hour five or six. That is ok if it is your airplane, but climbing into a club airplane with minimum experience, especially if it is a $90,000 airplane, can become problematic. The current Stearman insurance requires 100 tailwheel hours for solo (a little excessive; we are changing that). Most insurers are now looking for 25 tailwheel hours for coverage solo.
 
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I completely agree . I think you should also be required to do 3 full stop landings in both three point and wheelies . I felt good because most of my landings had been touch and go’s .
I wasn’t exposed to the slow speed of full stops and the control required during the slow down
I think it’s also a good idea to have some level
Of renters insurance even though PlusOne does have insurance

And yes I would love some cub time. I also plan to go up to Oceanside and get some 170 time
 
You obviously know where to find me. The Cub is an excellent trainer. The 170 is probably not as good as the Citabria, and the Citabria falls slightly behind the light Aeroncas and way behind the J-3 as a good primary tailwheel trainer.

Opinion - but lots of folks will tell you - you can fly a Cub, you can fly anything.
 
I’m not sure how to get ahold of you I have been told by my instructor that you are the best.
I would like to get instruction in all three aircraft because I do hope to buy a tail wheel aircraft Someday and would want to get a feel of different models
I’m not sure the best route for instruction. I like my current instructor and have my endorsement but don’t feel I’m ready to solo again
 
Today is all Stearman, but almost any other day I can be found at gate 8 in one of the adjacent Cub hangars. go west out of Gibbs - first gate on the right. Can't miss. I am the old guy on a bicycle.

Today I can be found at the Stearman hangar if I am not in the pattern.
 
Flew yesterday evening with Glen. Will be out Saturday morning and will most likely be turned loose again solo if all goes well. Glen says he will introduce us if your around after the flight
 
I think the key here is that you were "keeping the tail off as long as possible". When the tail falls on its own, that means that your elevator is no longer effective(won't hold the tail up any longer).
If the elevator is no longer effective, then neither is the rudder. You got to the point that your rudder would no longer steer the airplane.
You should start the tail down as soon as speed will allow. Get the tailwheel on as soon as possible to help steer the airplane.
Here is a paper I hand out to my students, hope it helps.

https://www.advancedtailwheeltraining.com/tailwheel_basics
 
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