Santana PA-18 REPLICA N3AK

Summary

On 8 August 2012 at about 18:30 local time, a Santana PA-18 REPLICA registered N3AK was involved in an accident near Ronan, Montana, 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

8 August 2012 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ronan, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Ronan Airport (7S0)

Coordinates

47.5669, -114.1008

Aircraft

Santana PA-18 REPLICA

Registration

N3AK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ronan → Ronan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA348

Nobody was injured.

A jammed tailwheel assembly, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control upon landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the airplane, reported that he had flown a left traffic pattern in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and that the wind was light and variable. The pilot then conducted a wheel landing, and he reported that it was normal. However, immediately after he lowered the tailwheel to the runway, the airplane veered rapidly right and then skidded off of the runway into grass. On-scene examination of the wreckage revealed that both of the tailwheel chains that normally connected the rudder horns to the tailwheel steering arms were disconnected from their respective springs. The end link of one of the chains was fractured, whereas the end link of the other chain was intact. The chains were different lengths, which was consistent with the possible failure and loss of one or more links. During subsequent disassembly of the tailwheel pivot mechanism, some springs and internal components were found fractured, and at least one of the springs was found jammed, which prevented the tailwheel from pivoting. Although the investigation could not determine when or why the chains failed or became disconnected, significantly increased or complete resistance to tailwheel pivoting could result in the failure of one or both chains. The available evidence is consistent with the tailwheel having become jammed, and possibly uncontrollable, in a noncentered position during flight, which resulted in the airplane entering a right veer during the landing roll from which the pilot could not recover. The maintenance technician who disassembled the tailwheel after the accident reported that the damage to the pivot mechanism did not result from the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.