- Date
- June 3, 1993, 10:29 local (14:29 UTC)
- Place
- Traverse City, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N17BAAmato Corben JR. ACE
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930603016799A
- Case key
- 9141
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
inadequate lubrication of the tailwheel bearings and inadequate preflight by the pilot/owner which resulted in a seized tailwheel.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that all three wheels of the tailwheel airplane were on the ground after landing. The airplane began a left hand turn which the pilot attempted to stop. The pilot stated he did not observe any response from his right rudder application. The airplane continued to turn left entering a ground loop with the right wing tip dragging on the ground. The right landing gear collapsed and the right wing main spar was damaged. The on-scene investigation revealed a lack of lubrication in the tailwheel bearings. This could result in the wheel being pulled from its spring loaded indent causing a loss of rudder pedal/tailwheel control.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On June 3, 1993, at 1029 eastern daylight time, a Corben Jr, Ace, N17BA, registered to and piloted by Mr. Brian Amato was substantially damaged when it swerved to the left during its landing roll on runway 36 (5108' X 150' dry asphalt) at the Traverse City, Cherry Capital City Airport, Traverse City, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The pilot, the sole occupant was not injured.
The pilot stated that once all three wheels were on the ground, the airplane made a slight veer to the left which he attempted to correct with right rudder. There was no response from the right rudder pedal and the aircraft continued to turn left entering what he describes as a classic ground loop, dropping the right wing to the pavement.
Personnel information
The pilot possess a commercial pilot certificate, with an airplane single-engine land, private pilot rating, issued on October 31,1991. His second class medical certificate without restrictions was issued on August 30, 1991.
Aircraft information
The airplane was a Brian Amato, Corben Junior Ace, an experimental home built, constructed by the registered owner.
Wreckage and impact information
On scene investigation revealed that the right main landing gear had collapsed, to the left, under the fuselage. The wooden propeller was destroyed and damage to the right main wing spar and some wing ribs was incurred.
Test and research
Post event inspection of the Scott tailwheel revealed a lack of lubrication and seized wheel bearings. Testing indicated that the dragging tail wheel could cause the wheel to be pulled from its spring loaded indent causing a loss of rudder pedal/ tail wheel control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N17BA
- Reported as
- Amato Corben JR. ACE (CORBEN JR.)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 520
- Engine
- Continental C-85-F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Brian C. Amato
- Registered owner
- Brian C. Amato
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · September 19, 1988 · 0 hours before
- Airport
- TVC · Cherry Capital City Arpt., runway 36, 5,107 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 559 total · 3 in this make and model · 414 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TVC
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.