Piper PA-18-150 N4056Z

Summary

On 7 May 1997 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4056Z was involved in an accident near Rogers City, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 May 1997 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Rogers City, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Presque Isle County (PZQ)

Coordinates

45.4205, -83.8092

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N4056Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alpena → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA139

Nobody was injured.

the disconnection of the tailwheel spring which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the tailwheel began to shimmy during the landing roll and the tailwheel spring on the left side became disconnected. The airplane spun around 270 degrees and the left wing contacted the runway. The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway prior to coming to rest. The pilot stated the groundspeed was very slow when the spring disconnected which resulted in a lack of rudder authority to control the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.