Accident Sequence
A pilot returning from a maintenance inspection experienced a loss of directional control during the landing roll at his home airport. He landed on runway 16 with a direct right crosswind of 5–10 knots. The landing was described as normal, and the airplane rolled straight for 200–300 yards before beginning a right turn. The pilot applied full left rudder with no effect. According to the pilot, the nose then swung sharply to the right before he could consider using differential braking. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and came to rest on its left wing tip, left main landing gear, and engine.
Damage and Marks
The left wing and aileron were bent and wrinkled. A photograph of the accident scene showed a serpentine black skip mark approximately 20 feet to the left of the runway centerline on the 75-foot-wide runway.
Preceding Events
The pilot reported noticing that the right clevis of the right tail wheel spring to the wheel's steering arm was starting to open several hours before a scheduled 10-hour maintenance inspection. During that inspection, a mechanic crimped the clevis. After the inspection, the pilot returned to his home airport, where the accident occurred.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the tail wheel assembly revealed that the clevis connecting the right tail wheel spring to the wheel's steering arm was disconnected. It was not determined why the tail wheel shimmied during the landing roll.
Pilot Information
At the time of the accident, the pilot had approximately 99 hours of total flight experience, with 23 hours in the accident make and model.