Accident Details
On August 13, 2018, at approximately 1100 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65 aircraft, registration N42218, experienced a runway excursion while landing at Polly Ranch Airport (7XS0) in Friendswood, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant and the aircraft owner, was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had departed at 1024.
Pilot Report
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who spoke with the pilot, the aircraft touched down at about 35 to 40 mph. As soon as the tailwheel contacted the runway, the airplane veered to the right. It continued off the runway and struck a tree. The pilot reported that he had departed 7XS0 and completed several uneventful touch-and-go landings at two nearby airports before returning. Landing on runway 11, a right crosswind of 9 knots was present. As the airplane slowed, it weathervaned into the wind, and the pilot was unable to steer using the tailwheel. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and collided with a tree.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the Maule tailwheel locking mechanism pins were worn down and degraded. The locking mechanism could not withstand even a small amount of side pressure. When pressure was applied to the tailwheel, the locking mechanism would unlock, causing the tailwheel to swivel out of alignment.