On March 25, 1986, a Champion 7GCAA (registration N9614S) was involved in an aviation accident near Falcon, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The detachment of the tailwheel spring, which allowed the tailwheel to pivot to one side during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tailwheel spring detached during landing, causing the wheel to pivot sharply and the aircraft to veer violently to the right as it slowed on the runway.
What happened
During the landing roll, the pilot reported that the aircraft began to slow down when it suddenly turned sharply to the right. Prior to this abrupt deviation, the pilot experienced extreme shuddering from the tailwheel assembly. The incident occurred while the aircraft was still on the ground during the landing phase.
The investigation
A physical examination of the aircraft revealed the mechanical failure responsible for the loss of directional control. Investigators determined that the spring securing the tailwheel had become detached. This failure allowed the tailwheel to pivot freely to one side once the aircraft's speed decreased, leading to the sharp turn described by the pilot.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was the mechanical failure of the tailwheel assembly. Specifically, the detached tailwheel spring permitted uncontrolled pivoting of the wheel during the landing roll. This mechanical issue directly resulted in the aircraft's sharp rightward turn as it decelerated.
Probable cause
The detachment of the tailwheel spring, which allowed the tailwheel to pivot to one side during the landing roll.