Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-22-160 near Ogden, UT — 2009-02-21

Final reportWPR09CA136
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Date
2009-02-21
Location
Ogden, UT, USA
Airport
OGD
Aircraft
PIPER PA-22-160
Registration
N8637D
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The loss of directional control during the landing roll due to the separation of the tailwheel spring retaining clip for unknown reasons.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the tailwheel-equipped airplane started veering to the right during the landing roll. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, and tipped onto its left wing tip, damaging the left elevator, before coming to rest upright within a snow bank. According to the pilot, the left tailwheel steering link (spring retaining clip), Univair Part number 2133, was missing from the tailwheel assembly and a search failed to locate it on the runway or near the airplane. A missing tailwheel steering link would allow the tailwheel to freely caster.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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