From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Narrative: on final approach to Midland, this ATP pilot put the gear down and got a green light, however, he heard an unusual grinding sound. A fly-by the tower revealed the tail wheel was flopping fore and aft. After a normal approach to runway 16 and touch down on the mains, the tail wheel collapsed forward supporting the fuselage and preventing any major damage. The tail wheel retract mechanism broke. The company will submit a m or d when determined why and what broke.
As the FAA filed it
NARRATIVE: ON FINAL APPROACH TO MIDLAND, THIS ATP PILOT PUT THE GEAR DOWN AND GOT A GREEN LIGHT, HOWEVER, HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL GRINDING SOUND. A FLY-BY THE TOWER REVEALED THE TAIL WHEEL WAS FLOPPING FORE AND AFT. AFTER A NORMAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 16 AND TOUCH DOWN ON THE MAINS, THE TAIL WHEEL COLLAPSED FORWARD SUPPORTING THE FUSELAGE AND PREVENTING ANY MAJOR DAMAGE. THE TAIL WHEEL RETRACT MECHANISM BROKE. THE COMPANY WILL SUBMIT A M OR D WHEN DETERMINED WHY AND WHAT BROKE.
Other reports on N9312Y · 6
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.