CHI05LA064

The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of directional control after touchdown. The pilot reported that after touching down, as the airplane slowed, it began turning to the right. The pilot stated he already had left aileron and rudder applied because there was a slight crosswind. However, he applied more aileron and rudder but the turn became more severe. He stated he tried the left brake to no avail. He stated the airplane was veering about 30 degrees off the runway centerline and he applied right brake to try and slow the airplane. The pilot stated the airplane began to skid as it traveled to the side of the runway at a speed of 35 to 40 knots. The pilot stated the airplane tipped to the left when it contacted the slushy grass. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the ground prior to the airplane settling back on the main gear. The pilot stated the airplane continued to turn until it came to rest facing the runway. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the tail wheel steering pawl was worn to the point that it would not sufficiently lock the locking collar allowing the tail wheel to castor on landing.

On February 3, 2005, at 1500 central standard time, a Cessna A185F, N1767R, collided with the terrain following a loss of directional control, while landing on runway 36 (4,855 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt) at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), Minneapolis, Minnesota. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Konshok Airport (PKD), Park Rapids, Minnesota, at 1350.

The pilot reported that after touching down he raised the flaps to put more weight on the aircraft wheels. He stated that as the airplane slowed, it began turning to the right. The pilot stated he already had left aileron and rudder applied because there was a slight crosswind. However, he applied more aileron and rudder but the turn became more severe. He stated he tried the left brake to no avail. He stated the airplane was veering about 30 degrees off the runway centerline and he applied right brake to try and slow the airplane. The pilot stated the airplane began to skid as it traveled to the side of the runway at a speed of 35 to 40 knots. The pilot stated the airplane tipped to the left when it contacted the slushy grass. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the ground prior to the airplane settling back on the main gear. The pilot stated the airplane continued to turn until it came to rest facing the runway.

The pilot stated he purchased the airplane in December 2004, and flew it for the first time during the week prior to the accident. His first flight consisted of five full stop landings with an instructor. He stated that both he and the instructor noted that the airplane was not taxiing right and that the left brake felt "soft." He stated he flew the airplane to ANE and on February 1, 2005, he made six full stop landings in the airplane at ANE. The pilot stated that the airplane was not handling "perfect" during this flight, but that it was "OK." The pilot stated that on the following day he flew the airplane back to PKD with a list of discrepancies that needed to be fixed. He stated the brakes were on the list. He stated that when he landed PKD the left brake was not working and the airplane veered on the runway coming to rest facing the runway edge.

The pilot stated that following the maintenance he taxied and test flew the airplane, and the brakes functioned properly. It was on his return flight back to ANE following the maintenance that the accident occurred.

Post accident inspection of the airplane was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The inspector reported the tail wheel steering pawl was worn to the point that it would not sufficiently lock the locking collar allowing the tail wheel to castor on landing.