N3424Y – CESSNA 180H – 2012-03-11 NTSB Accident Report

On March 11, 2012, a Cessna 180H (N3424Y) was involved in an incident near Belle Chase, LA. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The bent tailwheel spring that allowed the tailwheel to caster when the airplane encountered a wind gust on landing roll.

On downwind the pilot noticed that the wind had picked up and that there was light turbulence. He planned to land beyond trees to avoid turbulence. The airplane went through a gust of wind on roll out. The pilot applied rudder and aileron corrections along with heavy braking. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a pipe rack where the airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a tailwheel spring, part number 3432, was bent and its spring rate was weak, which allowed the tailwheel's fork to caster freely by not engaging into its machined locking detent.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN12CA185. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3424Y.