Piper PA 12 N4238M

Summary

On 30 June 2019 at about 19:40 local time, a Piper PA 12 registered N4238M was involved in an accident near Yakima, Washington, 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

30 June 2019 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Yakima, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister (YKM)

Coordinates

46.5669, -120.5372

Aircraft

Piper PA 12

Registration

N4238M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1947

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yakima → Yakima

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA376

Nobody was injured.

The separation of the left steering spring from the tailwheel assembly during landing for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a ground loop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, he felt a "tailwheel shimmy." He attempted to correct with elevator to no avail. The airplane veered right, and he attempted to add left brake, but the airplane quickly ground looped to the right. The left wing struck the runway. He then taxied the airplane to the ramp with difficulty. The pilot reported that postaccident examination revealed that the left tailwheel steering spring was missing. He added that the spring was present and operating normally during preflight and taxi before takeoff. Crash fire rescue personnel found the left steering spring on the runway while conducting an examination for runway damage. In pictures provided by the pilot, the spring appeared undamaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.