Cessna 180H Tailwheel Failure Leads to Forced Landing in Western Cape (ZS-LOU)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On 29 June 2024, a Cessna 180H Skywagon with registration ZS-LOU was operating a private Part 91 flight from Caledon Ville Farm Airstrip to Diemerskraal Airfield in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and two passengers. The flight departed under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) during the day. The pilot had previously flown from Stellenbosch Aerodrome to Caledon Ville to pick up the passengers. Prior to the final leg, the pilot conducted a pre-flight inspection and noted no anomalies. The aircraft was fueled with 90 litres of Avgas 100LL. ## Loss of Control and Forced Landing During the takeoff roll from Caledon Ville, the aircraft rotated and climbed to approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL) at a speed of 60 mph. The pilot attempted to level the aircraft by pushing the yoke forward but found the elevator unresponsive, with the aircraft remaining in a nose-up attitude. Despite trimming the horizontal stabilizer to maximum nose-down and applying full forward yoke pressure, the high nose attitude persisted. The pilot banked the aircraft to the right to direct the nose down, reduced throttle, and located a suitable area for a forced landing. The flaps were retracted, and the aircraft landed safely in an open field. No injuries were reported among the occupants. ## Investigation Findings and Probable Cause A post-flight inspection revealed that the right-side tailwheel torque tube had sheared and separated. The right saddle part of the assembly had pressed against the elevator control pushrod, restricting its movement and causing the elevator to remain stuck in the up position. The sheared torque tube was identified as an on-condition item. The pilot held a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and was adequately licensed and experienced for the flight. The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Release to Service were valid at the time of the incident. The last mandatory periodic inspection was conducted on 14 April 2024. ## Probable Cause The tailwheel attachment point broke off during takeoff, which restricted the elevator pushrod from travelling and prohibited the pilot from levelling off the aircraft. No contributing factors or safety actions were identified in the limited investigation report.