Pilot Debrief

Curtiss-Wright 12Q near Erie, CO — 2008-07-27

Final reportDFW08CA200
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Date
2008-07-27
Location
Erie, CO, USA
Aircraft
Curtiss-Wright 12Q
Registration
N496W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

Failure of the tail wheel control cable during landing roll out, which resulted in a loss of control.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was returning from a local flight in his vintage single-engine, bi-wing airplane, which was equipped with a tail wheel. He said the winds were light and variable when he made a normal landing on the asphalt runway. However, during the landing roll-out, the airplane suddenly entered a left turn and the pilot was unable to correct with right rudder and brake. The airplane entered the grass area adjacent to the runway, dragging its right wing tip, before it came to rest up on its nose. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the tail wheel control cable had disconnected from the spring on the right side, which caused the left side spring to pull the tail wheel to the left. In addition, two ribs in the lower right wing were broken.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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