Mellema BEDE 4 N76VR

Summary

On 3 August 2007 at about 21:50 local time, a Mellema BEDE 4 registered N76VR was involved in an accident near Ennis, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 August 2007 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Ennis, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Ennis Muni (F41)

Coordinates

32.3297, -96.6639

Aircraft

Mellema BEDE 4

Registration

N76VR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ennis → Ennis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW07CA175

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane following the disconnect of the tailwheel steering chain while landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 520-hour private pilot lost directional control of the single-engine tailwheel equipped experimental airplane during the landing roll on. The pilot reported that while in the pattern for the 3,999-foot long, by 50-foot wide runway, the tailwheel developed an excessive shimmy resulting in the loss of directional control. The pilot added that during his fifth touch and go, he first noted that the airplane started a slight drift to the left, which was followed by an uncommanded turn to the right. The airplane exited off the right side of the asphalt runway, into the grass. The airplane subsequently nosed-over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed that the engine firewall sustained structural damage during the accident sequence. Additionally, the right steering chain was found separated from the steering arm of the tailwheel assembly. The reason for the separation could not be determined. The winds at the time of the accident were reported as light and variable.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.