John S Eberle PITTS SPECIAL S1S N39124

Summary

On 30 October 2000 at about 15:30 local time, a John S Eberle PITTS SPECIAL S1S registered N39124 was involved in an accident near Sebring, Florida, United States. One person was 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

30 October 2000 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sebring, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sebring Regional Airport (SEF)

Coordinates

27.4904, -81.4495

Aircraft

John S Eberle PITTS SPECIAL S1S

Registration

N39124

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01LA020

Nobody was injured.

Improper inspection of the tailwheel assembly by the pilot which resulted in shimmy of the tailwheel assembly during landing due to a worn bearing caused by dirt infiltration which resulted in the pilot being unable to control the airplane and the airplane ground looping to the right.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he made a 3 point touchdown and the tailwheel immediately began to hammer or shimmy. The airplane began tracking about 10 degrees to the right and then started to turn to the right. He locked the left brake but could not prevent the airplane from ground looping to the right. He stated that examination of the tailwheel assembly after the accident showed the bearings in the assembly were worn out from dirt getting into the bearings, and the assembly was free to move sideways about 1/2 inch. He stated that this caused the shimmy during landing and that he normally operated from a dirt strip.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.