On July 1, 1998, an American Aviation Corp. (aac) AA-1TW (registration N5643L) was involved in an aviation accident near Point Lookout, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the failure of the tailwheel assembly due to corrosion. A factor associated with the accident was the overload failure of the right main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing roll, tailwheel vibration increased causing sharp left yaw; right landing gear attach bolts sheared, wing contacted runway, and airplane exited runway. Corrosion found on fractured tailwheel arm.
Incident Description
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the tailwheel began to vibrate. The vibration intensified, and the airplane made a sharp yaw to the left. After the airplane turned approximately 30 degrees, the bolts securing the right landing gear attach bracket sheared. Subsequently, the right wing contacted the runway surface. The airplane then skidded to the right side of the runway and exited the runway tail first.
Post-Inspection Findings
An examination of the airplane revealed that the right arm of the tailwheel had failed approximately 1 foot from the center of the arm. Corrosion was observed on the fractured surface.