Accident Details
On July 27, 2013, at approximately 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 175, registration N9388B, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion after landing at Windham Airport (IJD) in Willimantic, Connecticut. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which had originated from Salmon River Airfield (9B8) in Marlborough, Connecticut, about 1000.
Pilot and Eyewitness Accounts
According to the pilot, the airplane's tailwheel experienced a mechanical failure; however, no further comment was provided. An eyewitness reported that the landing "looked normal." When the tailwheel made contact with the runway surface, the witness heard it "shimmy" and then observed the airplane depart the runway into the grass as a "classic ground loop." The eyewitness further noted that the pilot attempted to taxi the airplane to the parking ramp after the runway excursion, until the pilot was signaled to stop by the eyewitness. The witness then placed the tail of the airplane in the back of his truck and towed the airplane to the ramp.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing, elevator, and tailwheel. The left wing was crumpled on the outboard approximate 4 feet, the left elevator was crumpled, and the vertical stabilizer rear spar was cracked. The left-side tailwheel mounting bolt was stripped, and the wheel was angled to the right. Photographic documentation showed that the tailwheel had little or no tread remaining, with the majority of the remaining tread on the outer rim of the wheel. Photographs provided by the FAA inspector did not show any abnormal wear on either sidewall of the tire that would be indicative of the tailwheel being angled to the right during touchdown. The main landing gear was inspected and no damage was observed. However, the pilot had disassembled the airplane, transported it to his private residence, and began repairs prior to the inspector's arrival on scene.
Photographs provided by the FAA inspector revealed skid marks on the runway similar to those of a free-castering wheel as well as skid marks from the right main landing gear. The skid marks continued off the right side of the runway. However, since the airplane was removed from the location prior to any documentation, the skid marks could not be positively correlated to the accident airplane.