# NTSB CEN10CA213: Waco YPF-7, N32077, Houston, TX, March 27, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 27, 2010, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.50361, -95.472778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5036&lon=-95.4728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75809 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75809/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75809 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA213 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain control during landing due to the failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism to remain engaged prior to landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco YPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=9601606), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco YPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=9601606), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Waco YPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=9601606), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco YPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9601606), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Waco YPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=9601606), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he locked the tailwheel on his single-engine airplane prior to departure. After takeoff, he stayed in the traffic pattern and landed. However, during the landing rollout the airplane ground-looped and the airplane's lower right wing contacted the ground, breaking the wood spar. The pilot stated that postaccident examination of the airplane indicated that either hardened grease and dirt buildup may have prevented the tailwheel locking mechanism from fully engaging or that the mechanism may have been inadvertently bumped in flight. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot stated that he locked the tailwheel on his single-engine airplane prior to departure. After takeoff, he stayed in the traffic pattern and landed. However, during the landing roll out, the airplane ground looped and the airplane's lower right wing contacted the ground and broke the wood spar. The pilot stated that on examining the airplane after the accident, that either hardened grease and dirt build up may have prevented the tail wheel locking mechanism from fully engaging or that the mechanism may have been inadvertently bumped in flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32077](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32077), registered now, S/N 5709, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO YPF-7 - Registry model: [Waco YPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-ypf-7) (registry code 9601606) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs L4 /R755-7](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-l4-r755-7) (registry code 35003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5709 - Engines: JACOBS L4 /R755-7 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Memorial Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Memorial Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AXH, Houston, TX - Destination: AXH, Houston, TX - Airport: AXH, Houston Southwest Airport, runway 27 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,566 total, 21 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100327031899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100327031899A), Mar 27, 2010: Waco YPF-7, Arcola, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that the landing was normal, until the tail wheel became unlocked. Pilot was unable to control the direction of the plane, even with the use… ## Other investigations on N32077 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW81FPJ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FPJ02), Oct 19, 1980: Waco YPF-7 (N32077), Oklahoma City, OK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75809. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.