On July 31, 1998, a Douglas DC-3C (registration N305SF) operated by Galaxy Air Cargo, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Anchorage, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, and the resulting overload fracture of the tailwheel fork assembly. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing roll after a wheel landing, an airplane veered left and departed the runway. Investigation revealed a fractured tailwheel fork assembly with overstress separations and no preexisting cracking.
Accident Description
During the landing roll following a wheel landing, the airplane veered to the left and departed the runway. The tailwheel fork assembly fractured during the event.
Postaccident Inspection
A postaccident inspection revealed that the tailwheel was offset to the left of the fuselage. The tailwheel fork assembly was examined at the NTSB metallurgical laboratory.
Metallurgical Findings
Metallurgical examination showed that the separations in the tailwheel fork assembly were consistent with overstress. No evidence of preexisting cracking was found.
Aircraft Information
The airplane and its tailwheel fork assembly had each accumulated 29,846 hours in operation at the time of the accident.
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