N1682G

Substantial
None

Champion 7KCABS/N: 137

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
NTSB Number
MIA08CA095
Location
Alexander City, AL
Event ID
20080519X00694
Coordinates
32.914722, -85.962776
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The separation of the right tail wheel spring on landing roll out for undetermined reasons, resulting in a loss of directional control and collision with a ditch.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N1682G
Make
CHAMPION
Serial Number
137
Year Built
1968
Model / ICAO
7KCAB

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
THREE POINT PARTNERS INC
Address
PO BOX 710670
Status
Deregistered
City
SANTEE
State / Zip Code
CA 92072-0670
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated he was conducting a personal flight with the owner of the airplane. The owner did not have any flight time in make and model. The airplane had a pre-buy inspection conducted two days before the accident and no anomalies were noted. The pilot conducted a preflight inspection before the flight and no anomalies were noted. The pilot and the owner departed on runway 36 and remained in a left closed traffic pattern. The pilot made a three-point landing in the first 1,000 feet of the runway, and was on landing roll out, when the tail wheel started to shimmy. He applied forward pressure on the control stick and raised the tail wheel off the runway. The shimmy ceased and the pilot applied aft pressure on the control stick and lowered the tail wheel onto the runway. The airplane immediately veered to the right. The pilot applied left brake and rudder, but the airplane continued to the right off the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch. The right main landing gear separated and the right wing received structural damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the right spring on the tail wheel control had separated from the rudder and the tail wheel attachment. The tail wheel spring was located about 20 feet off the right side of the runway and there was no visible damage to the tail wheel spring or the upper and lower attachments points. The previous owner stated that he informed the new owner of the tendency for the tail wheel to shimmy during three-point landings.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA08CA095