# NTSB CHI08CA295: North American Harvard MK, N9272C, Dayton, OH, September 28, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 28, 2008, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Dayton, OH - Coordinates: 39.697223, -83.99028 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6972&lon=-83.9903&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 69227 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69227/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA295 ## Probable cause Improper maintenance on the tail wheel anti-shimmy mechanism and the pilot's decision to continue operating the airplane with a known shimmy in the tail wheel. ## 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 · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [North American HARVARD MK II A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=6400501), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [North American HARVARD MK II A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=6400501), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American HARVARD MK II A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=6400501), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American HARVARD MK II A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400501), [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: [North American HARVARD MK II A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400501), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [North American HARVARD MK II A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=6400501), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when the tail wheel touched down during landing, he felt a "severe oscillation" which prevented him from maintaining directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway where it contacted a ditch collapsing the left main landing gear. The pilot reported he had always been able to control the airplane in the past with the tail wheel shimmy by using the brakes. Inspection of the airplane revealed the tail wheel clutch locking assembly cam was worn. In addition, the anti-shimmy friction spring was tightened down beyond limits. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that when the tail wheel touched down during landing, he felt a "severe oscillation" which prevented him from maintaining directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway where it contacted a ditch, collapsing the left main landing gear. The pilot reported that he had always been able to control the airplane in the past with the tail wheel shimmy by using the brakes. Inspection of the airplane revealed the tail wheel clutch locking assembly cam was worn. In addition, the anti-shimmy friction spring was tightened down beyond limits. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9272C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9272C), registered now, S/N 88-12054, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN HARVARD MK - Registry model: [North American HARVARD MK II A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-harvard-mk-ii-a) (registry code 6400501) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 88-12054 - Airframe hours: 9983 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Warbird Flyers LLC - Registered owner: Warbird Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2007, 55 hours before - Departed: Dayton, OH - Destination: I19, Xenia, OH - Airport: I19, Greene County, runway 25, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 5,186 total, 733 in this make and model, 4,059 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: 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 20080928850439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080928850439A), Sep 28, 2008: Namer HARVARDMKIIA, Dayton, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N9272C landed at Greene county airport experiencing an uncontrollable shimmy of the aircraft tail wheel assembly. This caused the aircraft to… 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.