20180813024259A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper J3C-65 · Friendswood, TX · August 13, 2018

Date: August 13, 2018 · 10:30 local
Place: Friendswood, TX
Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N42218
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN18TA330
Reported as: Piper J3C-65
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,406 total375 in this make and model12 in the last 90 days

N42218Registered now · Piper J3C-65S/N 14464 · Built 1945 Airframe modelPiper J3C-65 Engine modelContinental A&C65 seriesReciprocating

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.

When landing on runway 11 at airport polyranch (7XSQ) about 1030 local central time on August 13, 2018.

After landing, on roll out pilot unable to keep aircraft from veering off the runway to the right then hitting a tree. Substantial damage to aircraft no injury. Cause of accident due to tail wheel system failure and pilot mismanaging tail wheel. Further investigation revealed locking pins worn beyond limits contributing to the accident.

As the FAA filed it

WHEN LANDING ON RUNWAY 11 AT AIRPORT POLYRANCH (7XSQ) ABOUT 1030 LOCAL CENTRAL TIME ON AUGUST 13, 2018.

AFTER LANDING, ON ROLL OUT PILOT UNABLE TO KEEP AIRCRAFT FROM VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT THEN HITTING A TREE. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT NO INJURY. CAUSE OF ACCIDENT DUE TO TAIL WHEEL SYSTEM FAILURE AND PILOT MISMANAGING TAIL WHEEL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED LOCKING PINS WORN BEYOND LIMITS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN18TA330Accident · No injuriesFinal reportFriendswood, TXThe pilot's decision to conduct a flight in an airplane that had a tailwheel with degraded locking pins, which allowed the tailwheel to unlock and swivel out of alignment and precluded the pilot from regaining directional control on the ground during a…Aug 13, 2018 · Substantial damage