Summary
On February 02, 2013, a Cessna 305A (N342FS) was involved in an incident near Camarillo, CA. 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: A tailwheel vibration upon touchdown and the subsequent loss of directional control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
On February 2, 2013, about 1400 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 305A, N342FS, experienced a runway excursion at Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Camarillo at 1300. Visual meteorological (VMC) conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that the preflight detected no anomalies with the airplane. The departure and local area flight had been uneventful. The three-point landing was normal in minimal wind.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR13LA112. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N342FS.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
A tailwheel vibration upon touchdown and the subsequent loss of directional control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On February 2, 2013, about 1400 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 305A, N342FS, experienced a runway excursion at Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Camarillo at 1300. Visual meteorological (VMC) conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that the preflight detected no anomalies with the airplane. The departure and local area flight had been uneventful. The three-point landing was normal in minimal wind. Immediately upon touchdown, the pilot felt an extreme tail wheel vibration, and the airplane abruptly made a sharp left turn. The airplane veered off the runway, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing, right aileron, right landing gear box, horizontal stabilizer, and right elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot noted that post flight inspection revealed that the right rudder cable had broken.
Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the rudder control cables for the front and back seats, which extend from the rudder pedals to the rudder control horn, had separated about 14 inches from the rudder pedals. This was in the vicinity of the collapsed right main gear attachment point. No observations were made that could account for the tail wheel vibration on touchdown.
The National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory examined the rudder control cables. The specialist conducting the examination determined that both cable fractures were consistent with overstress; no evidence of preexisting defects, such as corrosion or fatigue, was found.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR13LA112