What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft departed RWY17. On climbout PIC reached over his left shoulder to turn on the noise cancelling feature on his headset. Pilot stated he was then distracted by geese that were at approximately 2'0CLOCK position off starboard side, flying his direction. (Several ponds located on airport site). Pilot stated he "put the nose down slightly" and then felt a jolt. Another aircraft that was on final radio'd the pilot and told him he had "lost his tailwheel". The pilot understood this to mean the wheel itself had fallen off. Pilot circled the field and landed with out incident, however rudder was severly damaged on landing.
Aircraft had struck a low (4FT tall) perimeter fence brick column.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RWY17. ON CLIMBOUT PIC REACHED OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER TO TURN ON THE NOISE CANCELLING FEATURE ON HIS HEADSET. PILOT STATED HE WAS THEN DISTRACTED BY GEESE THAT WERE AT APPROXIMATELY 2'0CLOCK POSITION OFF STARBOARD SIDE, FLYING HIS DIRECTION. (SEVERAL PONDS LOCATED ON AIRPORT SITE). PILOT STATED HE "PUT THE NOSE DOWN SLIGHTLY" AND THEN FELT A JOLT. ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS ON FINAL RADIO'D THE PILOT AND TOLD HIM HE HAD "LOST HIS TAILWHEEL". THE PILOT UNDERSTOOD THIS TO MEAN THE WHEEL ITSELF HAD FALLEN OFF. PILOT CIRCLED THE FIELD AND LANDED WITH OUT INCIDENT, HOWEVER RUDDER WAS SEVERLY DAMAGED ON LANDING.
AIRCRAFT HAD STRUCK A LOW (4FT TALL) PERIMETER FENCE BRICK COLUMN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.