N4873E

On September 30, 1999, at 1030 central daylight time, a Champion 7FC tailwheel equipped airplane, N4873E, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a go-around at a private turf airstrip near Powderly, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed from the private Flying Tiger Airport near Powderly, Texas, approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident.

The pilot/owner reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), that the airplane was at the Flying Tiger Airport, Powderly, Texas, for an annual maintenance inspection. To the owner's knowledge, the mechanic had not performed the requested maintenance on the aircraft, and the owner decided to fly the airplane to another private airstrip at Powderly, Texas for the annual inspection. The owner stated that during the departure from the Flying Tiger Airport, the takeoff had "felt touchy." During the landing at Powderly, the airplane was uncontrollable during the landing roll and "veered violently to the right." The pilot added full power to avoid hitting a house. Subsequently, the airplane passed over the house, landed, and "slid to a stop on its nose."

The pilot and the FAA inspector examined the aircraft. The tailwheel springs were found removed from the tailwheel assembly. The fuselage was damaged at the right wing strut attachment point and the right wing spar was bent. The pilot's total flight time was 700 hours, of which 30 hours were in the accident aircraft.

The pilot reported to the IIC that following the accident, he was informed that the mechanic at the Flying Tiger Airport had removed the springs from the tailwheel. The pilot further stated that he did not look at the tailwheel assembly during the preflight.