On January 11, 2003, an Aviat HUSKY (registration N415JB) operated by Ronald E. Brewer was involved in an aviation accident near Dayton, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a ditch. A factor was separation of the spring clip from the landing gear steering system. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a touch-and-go landing, an airplane veered right, drifted 75 feet, and exited the runway into a ditch. Post-accident examination found the left rudder cable disconnected from the tail wheel butterfly ring.
Incident
During a series of touch-and-go landings, the pilot reported that on the third landing the airplane veered to the right during the landing roll. The airplane drifted approximately 75 feet, and the pilot's efforts to correct the drift were unsuccessful. The airplane then veered off the right side of the runway into a ditch.
Examination
A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had spar damage. Further inspection disclosed that the left rudder cable was not attached to the butterfly ring on the tail wheel. The spring clip that connects the rudder cable to the butterfly ring was found approximately 20 feet from where the airplane touched down on the runway.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that the main landing gear wheel braking system was operational.