Pilot Debrief

Reeves Avid Mark IV near Brookfield, MO — 2011-04-02

Final reportCEN11LA281
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Date
2011-04-02
Location
Brookfield, MO, USA
Airport
MO8
Aircraft
Reeves Avid Mark IV
Registration
N6313T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway.

NTSB narrative

The pilot said that before the accident flight he changed the tailwheel assembly, which resulted in an increase in tire width. He said that he made the change so that the tailwheel would "float" during the landing roll on turf runways. The pilot was landing at a local airport when the tailwheel experienced a severe shimmy on touchdown. The airplane started to pull and then veer off the left side of the runway and impacted a ditch, despite the pilot's rudder application. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed no preimpact anomalies.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have reconsidered tailwheel modification before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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