Pilot Debrief

TAYLORCRAFT BC12 D near Santa Teresa, NM — 2018-06-10

Final reportCEN18LA222
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Date
2018-06-10
Location
Santa Teresa, NM, USA
Airport
DNA
Aircraft
TAYLORCRAFT BC12 D
Registration
N43443
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during a touch-and-go landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he felt an "unusual mechanical sensation," but was able to maintain directional control and continued the takeoff. During his second landing approach, the airplane “aggressively weathercocked” into the wind on short final approach and the airplane touched down tailwheel first. During the landing roll, the airplane started to veer left, and the pilot was unable to correct with rudder input. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. After the accident, the pilot noted that the left rudder spring had disconnected from the arm of the steerable tailwheel and the safety wire was missing. The pilot reconnected the spring before the airplane could be examined; whether the tailwheel spring contributed to the loss of control could not be determined. The recorded weather conditions about the time of the accident included a left quartering tailwind at 6 knots with gusts to 13 knots for the landing runway.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have opted for a go-around instead of continuing the landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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