# NTSB CHI93DEM01: Amato Corben JR. ACE, N17BA, Traverse City, MI, June 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: June 3, 1993, 10:29 local (14:29 UTC) - Place: Traverse City, MI - Coordinates: 44.759601, -85.699234 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7596&lon=-85.6992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9141 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93DEM01 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9141/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93DEM01 ## Probable cause inadequate lubrication of the tailwheel bearings and inadequate preflight by the pilot/owner which resulted in a seized tailwheel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel - seized (cause) - maintenance,lubrication - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17BA-2016-12-12), registration cancelled 2016-12-12, S/N 520 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMATO CORBEN JR. ACE (CORBEN JR.) - Registry model: [Amato Brian C CORBEN JUNIOR ACE](https://openairdocs.org/model/amato-brian-c-corben-junior-ace) (registry code 0030454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85-12F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12f) (registry code 17125, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 520 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930603016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930603016799A), Jun 3, 1993: Amtraa JUNIORACE, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. Ground looped on landing roll. Dragged wing. Gear collapsed. Unlubricated tailwheel bearing froze. Gear fatigued. 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.