What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Initial report was that the tail wheel broke off when pilot added power in an attempt to get main wheels out of a rut. One wheel popped out causing the tail to whip around with great force until it contacted an inmovable object which tore the fuselage tail cluster joint completely off the aircraft. Pilot could find nothing but the normal tussock clumps in the area to explain what the tail wheel contacted.
As the FAA filed it
INITIAL REPORT WAS THAT THE TAIL WHEEL BROKE OFF WHEN PILOT ADDED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET MAIN WHEELS OUT OF A RUT. ONE WHEEL POPPED OUT CAUSING THE TAIL TO WHIP AROUND WITH GREAT FORCE UNTIL IT CONTACTED AN INMOVABLE OBJECT WHICH TORE THE FUSELAGE TAIL CLUSTER JOINT COMPLETELY OFF THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT COULD FIND NOTHING BUT THE NORMAL TUSSOCK CLUMPS IN THE AREA TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE TAIL WHEEL CONTACTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N2534M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.