Tell me what is wrong with this picture? I am sitting next to Al T. Meter in his new Skyhopper aircraft he built. He has flown the 40 hours off the new airplane as is required by the FAA. Mr. Meter says, “Hey Bill you want to go for a ride? I say, “Sure!” Well on short final Mr. Meter touches down in the grass short of runway 18 at Smartt Field and bounces back up and then lands smartly on the runway and proceeds to ground loop the airplane hitting the right wing and aileron on the ground. Well when the dust settles and the friendly FAA shows up to talk to Mr. Meter. What may happen?

The FAA will ask to see Mr. Meter’s aircraft paperwork and check his license and logbook. We can figure that the aircraft will pass the test as long as nothing major was changed. (Changing propeller type, ignition systems, etc.. would be a major aircraft change that would require you to have the airplane reinspected). The FAA will look at Mr. Meter’s logbook for a Biennial Flight Review, a tailwheel sign-off and his three take-off and landings to a full stop in the last 90 days. Well the airplane has damage and an accident report must be written up with in 10 days if the FAA requests it... and they will. Hopefully Mr. Meter submits a very brief statement of what happened.
Well next is the blame game. Who is at fault for this excursion? Let’s see, Mr. Meter has a Private Certificate with 200 hours and the guy in the right seat has 11,000+ hours and holds a Certified Flight Instructor -Airplane (CFI-A) Certificate. He also checked Mr. Meter out in a tailwheel aircraft prior to Mr. Meter flying his tail dragging Skyhopper. Well the FAA will go after the guy who is the most qualified pilot. Why you ask? I asked why too! Because I as a tailwheel certified, CFI-A pilot should not have let Mr. Meter get into that situation. The statement, “Well Bill why did you let him do that to the airplane?” Really sir I did not want him to but .. It has been stated to us Instructors that if you want to be removed from blame then very clearly, up front and in writing, state that, I, Mr. Bill am not assuming any pilot in command roles or responsibilities on this flight. Just remember, and this will be hard to do, that if you want no responsibility then DO NOT touch the controls. Easier said then done I am sure.

The first manned balloon flight in St. Louis occurred in.............. 1836

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