Summary
On July 15, 2007, a Cessna 180 (N3306D) was involved in an incident near Madison, SD. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The tailwheel vibrations during the landing roll that resulted in the tailwheel spring disconnect. Directional control was not possible and the grassy terrain were factors.
The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its left side during a landing roll. The pilot reported that after touchdown the rail wheel began to shimmy and the airplane began to shake. He reported that he "rode the rudder from side to side" in order to try and stop the shimmy. He reported that the airplane veered to the right near the end of the landing roll. The pilot reported he used the left rudder and brake to stop the turn, but the airplane kept veering. The airplane traveled into the grass where the left main landing gear then collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its left side. The pilot reported the tail springs came unhooked as a result of the tail wheel shimmy.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI07CA216. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3306D.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The tailwheel vibrations during the landing roll that resulted in the tailwheel spring disconnect. Directional control was not possible and the grassy terrain were factors.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its left side during a landing roll. The pilot reported that after touchdown the rail wheel began to shimmy and the airplane began to shake. He reported that he "rode the rudder from side to side" in order to try and stop the shimmy. He reported that the airplane veered to the right near the end of the landing roll. The pilot reported he used the left rudder and brake to stop the turn, but the airplane kept veering. The airplane traveled into the grass where the left main landing gear then collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its left side. The pilot reported the tail springs came unhooked as a result of the tail wheel shimmy.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI07CA216