20111027029219I

ON 10/27/2011 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WHILE CONDUCTING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT AND ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF A GREAT LAKES BI-PLANE, REGISTRATION NUMBER N6075L, DID LOSE CONTROL DURING LANDING RESULTING IN A PARTIAL GROUND LOOP AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE WING FABRIC ON THE RIGHT WING LOWER SKIN. 10/31/2011 DURING A TELEPHONE DISCUSSION WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HE INDICATED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL DEVELOPED A SIGNIFICANT SHIMMY DURING LANDING. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXPLAINED THAT HE MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO "UNLOAD AND RELOAD" THE FLIGHT CONTROLS IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE THE SHIMMY. AFTER EACH ATTEMPT AND AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED DOWN THE SHIMMY INCREASED IN INTENSITY. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXPLAINED THAT AFTER THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, RESULTING IN THE PARTIAL LOOP.10/31/2011 DISCUSSION WITH OFFICE AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS PERTAINING TO THIS EVENT, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE "SCOTTS" TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY IS PRONE TO THIS BEHAVIOR IF NOT PROPERLY SERVICED DUE TO SMALL RETAINING LUGS THAT TEND TO WEAR OUT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.11/01/2011 DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, CHIEF PILOT, HE STATED HE HAD FLOWN THAT SAME AIRCRAFT THE AFTERNOON OF THE PREVIOUS DAY AND EXPERIENCED NO TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ALSO STATED THAT HE FELT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE WITH BRAKING DURING LANDINGS AND THAT THEY WERE PLANNING TO FLY TOGETHER TO WORK ON BRAKING AS A LAST OPTION FOR AIRCRAFT CONTROLLABILITY DURING LANDINGS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT SERVICED PROPERLY ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOSS OF CONTROLLABILITY. NO FURTHER AIRMEN ACTION REQUIRED. REPAIRMEN ACTION MAY BE FORTHCOMING.