Summary
On March 27, 2010, a Waco YPF-7 (N32077) was involved in an incident near Houston, TX. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inability to maintain control during landing due to the failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism to remain engaged prior to landing.
The commercial pilot stated that he locked the tailwheel on his single-engine airplane prior to departure. After takeoff, he stayed in the traffic pattern and landed. However, during the landing roll out, the airplane ground looped and the airplane's lower right wing contacted the ground and broke the wood spar. The pilot stated that on examining the airplane after the accident, that either hardened grease and dirt build up may have prevented the tail wheel locking mechanism from fully engaging or that the mechanism may have been inadvertently bumped in flight.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN10CA213. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N32077.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inability to maintain control during landing due to the failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism to remain engaged prior to landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The commercial pilot stated that he locked the tailwheel on his single-engine airplane prior to departure. After takeoff, he stayed in the traffic pattern and landed. However, during the landing roll out, the airplane ground looped and the airplane's lower right wing contacted the ground and broke the wood spar. The pilot stated that on examining the airplane after the accident, that either hardened grease and dirt build up may have prevented the tail wheel locking mechanism from fully engaging or that the mechanism may have been inadvertently bumped in flight.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN10CA213