BREEZY POINT, MN, USA
N9534D
PIPER PA-22
THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY REVEALED A BROKEN INTERNAL SPRING CLIP WITH A FATIGUE INDUCED FRACTURE EMANATING FROM SEVERAL SURFACE CORROSION PITS. PRIOR TO DISASSEMBLY THE TAIL WHEEL UNIT WOULD TURN FREELY TO THE RIGHT BUT NOT TO THE LEFT. ONCE THE UNIT WAS DISASSEMBLED AND THE BROKEN SPRING CLIP REMOVED, THE ASSEMBLED UNIT TURNED FREELY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY DUE TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF AN INTERNAL SPRING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
