# NTSB ERA10CA329: North American SNJ-4, N43NA, Suffolk, VA, June 17, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 17, 2010, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Suffolk, VA
- Coordinates: 36.68222, -76.601669 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6822&lon=-76.6017&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/ FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76416
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA329
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76416/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76416
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA329

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 SNJ-4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400414), [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 SNJ-4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North American SNJ-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6400414), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to statements from the certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the certificated airline transport pilot (ATP), the ATP was seated in the front seat receiving dual instruction to "re-qualify" in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Previously that day, the front-seat pilot had performed two uneventful takeoffs and landings. The accident flight departed runway 25, with winds estimated to be from 270 degrees to 290 degrees at 5 to 8 mph, and remained in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg abeam the runway, the landing gear were extended and the flaps were extended to 20 degrees. The front-seat pilot turned the airplane from base leg to final, and with full flaps extended after crossing the threshold, reduced power and attained a three-point landing attitude. The landing was "smooth and on-centerline," but at 50 knots, the front seat pilot felt a "bump and shimmy," while the CFI felt a "slight bump, much like a skip, followed immediately by the 'feeling' of a very slight yaw of the tail to the left." The CFI took control of the airplane and applied full left rudder and brake, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and the left wing contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to it. Postaccident inspection and operational testing of the tailwheel lock and unlock assembly revealed no mechanical anomalies. No elongation of the hole for the locking or unlocking was noted, and visual inspection of the pin revealed no deformation. The cable and pulley system for the lock and unlock was found to operate normally. Additional inspection of the airplane, its brake system, and tailwheel assembly by a mechanic with a reported 30 years' experience with the airplane also revealed no preexisting mechanical issues.

## Factual narrative

According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the certificated airline transport pilot (ATP), the ATP was seated in the front seat receiving dual instruction to "re-qualify" in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Previously that day, the front seat pilot had performed two uneventful takeoffs and landings. The accident flight departed runway 25 with winds estimated to be from 270 degrees to 290 degrees at 5 to 8 mph, and remained in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg abeam the runway, the landing gear were extended, and the flaps were extended to 20 degrees. The front seat pilot turned the airplane from base leg to final, and with full flaps extended after crossing the threshold, reduced power and attained a three-point landing attitude. The landing was "smooth and on-centerline," but at 50 knots, the front seat pilot felt a "bump and shimmy," while the CFI felt a "slight bump, much like a skip, followed immediately by the 'feeling' of a very slight yaw of the tail to the left." The CFI took control of the airplane and applied full left rudder and brake, but the airplane did not respond. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, and the left wing contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to it. Post-accident inspection and operational testing of the tail wheel lock and unlock assembly revealed no mechanical anomalies. No elongation of the hole for the locking or unlocking was noted, and visual inspection of the pin revealed no deformation. The cable and pulley system for the lock and unlock was found to operate normally. Additional inspection of the airplane, its brake system, and tailwheel assembly by a mechanic with a reported 30 years' experience with the airplane also revealed no preexisting mechanical issues.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43NA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43NA-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 8811798, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4
- Registry model: [North American SNJ-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-4) (registry code 6400414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8811798
- Airframe hours: 6525
- Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Training Services Inc DBA
- Registered owner: Training Services Inc DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2010
- Departed: SFQ, Suffolk, VA
- Destination: SFQ, Suffolk, VA
- Airport: SFQ, Suffolk Executive Airport, runway 25, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 24, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 25,100 total, 325 in this make and model, 9,200 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 78; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 18,300 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: SFQ

## 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 20100617036959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100617036959A), Jun 17, 2010: North Ameri SNJ-4, Suffolk, VA, Substantial damage. Landing 25, during roll-out a/c pulled to the right, went sideways into the grass, left wing tip hit the ground and the left gear collapsed. No injuries.

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76416. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 803 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Excerpts From the Airplane's Illustrated Parts Catalog Showing the Tailwheel Assembly (item 4, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Illustrated%20Parts%20Catalog%20Showing%20the%20Tailwheel%20Assembly-Master.PDF
- Record of NTSB Conversations (item 5, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. View of a Portion of the Tailwheel Assembly. Box Denotes Tail Wheel Spindle Lock Pin Assembly. (item 6, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.%20View%20of%20a%20Portion%20of%20the%20Tailwheel%20Assembly.%20Box%20Denotes%20Tail%20Wheel%20Spindle%20Lock%20Pin%20Assembly.-Master.PDF

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.

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