Airplane Began To Roll Left Unless (Pilot) Continuously Held About 3/4 Right Aileron Input

Location: West Union, OH Accident Number: CEN22LA038
Date & Time: November 15, 2021, 17:30 Local Registration: N3463Z
Aircraft: Piper PA-22-160 Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On November 15, 2021, about 1730 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-22-160, N3463Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Union, Ohio. The student pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight.

The student pilot reported that he was on a solo cross-country flight in furtherance of his private pilot certificate. The student pilot stated that after a descent from 5,500 ft to 2,500 ft, the airplane began to roll left unless he continuously held about 3/4 right aileron input. The use of rudder did not null the left roll tendency. Due to the left roll and lower cloud bases ahead, he elected to divert to Alexander Salamon Airport (AMT). After an initial attempt to land on runway 5, he entered left traffic for runway 23. During the landing flare, the airplane continued the left roll and touched down hard a little past the 1,000 ft runway touchdown markers. The airplane bounced and touched back down before it departed the left side of the runway where it impacted a ditch and nosed over. The fuselage and engine mount sustained substantial damage.

A detailed examination is pending.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov