On September 30, 1999, a Champion 7FC (registration N4873E) was involved in an aviation accident near Powderly, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane, during which he failed to detect the disconnected tailwheel steering assembly. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing, the airplane veered violently right. The pilot added power to avoid a house, passed over it, and slid to a stop on its nose. Examination found tailwheel springs removed; pilot did not inspect them preflight.
Event Description
During the landing roll, the airplane became uncontrollable and veered violently to the right. In an effort to avoid colliding with a house, the pilot applied full power. The airplane subsequently passed over the house, landed, and slid to a stop on its nose.
Examination
A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the springs had been removed from the tailwheel assembly. The absence of these springs likely affected the directional stability of the tailwheel during the landing roll.
Pilot Statement
The pilot, who also owned the airplane, stated that he did not inspect the tailwheel assembly during the preflight inspection. This oversight meant the missing springs were not detected before the flight.