Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel's failure to detect the worn tailwheel assembly during the airplane's annual inspection.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing on runway 25L in the tail-wheel equipped airplane, it touched down in a three-point landing attitude on the centerline. Shortly thereafter, it started to veer to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and brake application; however, the airplane continued to veer off the right edge of the runway into tall grass and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
While taxiing the airplane back to the hangar, the pilot stated that he noticed that the wind was blowing from the northeast and that runway 7L was now in use. He also noticed that the left rudder/brake pedal required more travel distance than the right pedal, with reduced brake effectiveness on the left side.
During a postaccident examination of the brake system, no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were revealed that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR16CA077