What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
PIC reported a normal wheel landing on runway 07 at Russellville Regional Airport (krue). As the aircraft slowed to approximately 35 -40 mph, the tail wheel touched down with a slight vibration. At approximately 30 mph, the tail wheel began to vibrate more severely, and the aircraft began pulling to the right. The PIC applied the left brake and rudder. However, as the aircraft slowed, the tail wheel vibration increased in severity, and the aircraft continued to pull aggressively to the right. Continuous left brake was applied, but the aircraft departed the runway in a ground loop. As the aircraft turned and came to a stop approximately 190 degrees from its initial runway heading, the tailwheel assembly broke free, and the right fuselage crumpled.
As the FAA filed it
PIC REPORTED A NORMAL WHEEL LANDING ON RUNWAY 07 AT RUSSELLVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT (KRUE). AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 35 -40 MPH, THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN WITH A SLIGHT VIBRATION. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TAIL WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE MORE SEVERELY, AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE PIC APPLIED THE LEFT BRAKE AND RUDDER. HOWEVER, AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE TAIL WHEEL VIBRATION INCREASED IN SEVERITY, AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO PULL AGGRESSIVELY TO THE RIGHT. CONTINUOUS LEFT BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY IN A GROUND LOOP. AS THE AIRCRAFT TURNED AND CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 190 DEGREES FROM ITS INITIAL RUNWAY HEADING, THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE, AND THE RIGHT FUSELAGE CRUMPLED.
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 N5235D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.