# NTSB DFW08CA200: Curtiss-Wright 12Q, N496W, Erie, CO, July 27, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2008, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.006111, -105.041946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0061&lon=-105.0419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 68525 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68525/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA200 ## Probable cause Failure of the tail wheel control cable during landing roll out, which resulted in a loss of control. ## 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 · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 12-Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2621302), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 12-Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2621302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 12-Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2621302), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 12-Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2621302), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was returning from a local flight in his vintage single-engine, bi-wing airplane, which was equipped with a tail wheel. He said the winds were light and variable when he made a normal landing on the asphalt runway. However, during the landing roll-out, the airplane suddenly entered a left turn and the pilot was unable to correct with right rudder and brake. The airplane entered the grass area adjacent to the runway, dragging its right wing tip, before it came to rest up on its nose. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the tail wheel control cable had disconnected from the spring on the right side, which caused the left side spring to pull the tail wheel to the left. In addition, two ribs in the lower right wing were broken. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot was returning from a local flight in his vintage single-engine, bi-wing airplane, which was equipped with a tail wheel. He said the winds were light and variable when he made a normal landing on the asphalt runway. However, during the landing roll-out, the airplane suddenly entered a left turn and the pilot was unable to correct with right rudder and brake. The airplane entered the grass area adjacent to the runway, dragging its right wing tip, before it came to rest up on its nose. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the tail wheel control cable had disconnected from the spring on the right side, which caused the left side spring to pull the tail wheel to the left. In addition, two ribs in the lower right wing were broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N496W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N496W), registered now, S/N 2023, built 1931 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Curtiss-Wright 12Q - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 12-Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-12-q) (registry code 2621302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2023 - Engines: Lycoming RL-3247-27 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeff Caplitz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EIK, Erie, CO - Destination: EIK, Erie, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 3,500 total, 500 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 20080727841759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080727841759A), Jul 27, 2008: Curtis TRVAIR12Q, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 27, 2008, pilot [privacy data omitted] was landing his Curtis wright travel air 12-Q, NC496W, at Erie, CO,(keik). During the touch down phase the… ## Other investigations on N496W (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 SEA97LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA207), Sep 7, 1997: Curtiss-Wright Travel AIR 12-Q (N496W), Pendleton, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: the tail wheel assembly spring disconnected. 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.