Ogden, UT, USA
N8637D
PIPER PA-22-160
The pilot stated that the tailwheel-equipped airplane started veering to the right during the landing roll. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, and tipped onto its left wing tip, damaging the left elevator, before coming to rest upright within a snow bank. According to the pilot, the left tailwheel steering link (spring retaining clip), Univair Part number 2133, was missing from the tailwheel assembly and a search failed to locate it on the runway or near the airplane. A missing tailwheel steering link would allow the tailwheel to freely caster.
The pilot stated that the tail wheel-equipped airplane started veering to the right during the landing roll. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, and tipped onto its left wing tip damaging the left elevator, before coming to rest upright within a snow bank. According to the pilot, the left tail wheel steering link (spring retaining clip), Univair Part no. 2133, was missing from the tail wheel assembly and a search failed to locate it on the runway or near the airplane. A missing tail wheel steering link would allow the tail wheel to freely caster.
The loss of directional control during the landing roll due to the separation of the tailwheel spring retaining clip for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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