Pilot Debrief

Vans RV8 near Harrison, OH — 2020-03-04

Final reportCEN20CA114
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Date
2020-03-04
Location
Harrison, OH, USA
Airport
I67
Aircraft
Vans RV8
Registration
N878DZ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The malfunction of the steerable tailwheel, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent impact with the precision approach path indicator lights system.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he made a normal landing approach to the runway with a direct crosswind of 15 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot was initially able to maintain directional control with normal flight control inputs after the airplane touched down on the main landing gear; however, when the tailwheel touched down, the tail began to weathervane, and the airplane veered right. The pilot was unable to regain directional control by applying full left rudder and left brake before the airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a precision approach path indicator lights system. The left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination and a functional test of the steerable tailwheel revealed that the spring-actuated key slide would stick in the retracted position within the tailwheel fork, which allowed the tailwheel to fully caster instead of being steerable within the normal limits intended for takeoff and landing. Additional examination revealed that the slot in the tailwheel fork that held the spring-actuated key slide was slightly deformed and that the key had several raised edges that caused the key to bind when fully retracted in the slot. It is likely that the tailwheel was able to fully caster during landing, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the tailwheel touched down during the landing roll.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing due to crosswind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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