# NTSB ERA22LA214: North American SNJ-6, N451WA, Greenwood, SC, May 1, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 1, 2022, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Greenwood, SC - Coordinates: 34.250394, -82.157809 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2504&lon=-82.1578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105027 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105027/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105027 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA214 ## Probable cause The loss of directional control due to a fractured tailwheel steering linkage assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear steering system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American SNJ-6, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6400422), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, during the approach to landing the student pilot correctly flared and maintained pitch attitude and airspeed as the airplane touched down. When the tailwheel contacted the runway, the airplane immediately yawed to the left uncontrollably. The airplane ground looped, and the main landing gear collapsed before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. An examination of the tailwheel steering linkage assembly revealed the castellated nut fitting fractured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N451WA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N451WA), registered now, S/N 112227, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-6 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-6) (registry code 6400422) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 112227 - Year built: 1945 - Airframe hours: 7478 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Warbird Adventures Inc. - Registered owner: Warbird Adventures Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2022, 77 hours before - Departed: GRD, Greenwood, SC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: GRD, Greenwood County Airport, runway 27, 5,001 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,011 total, 286 in this make and model, 916 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 800 total, 10 in this make and model, 7,700 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KGRD - METAR: METAR KGRD 011656Z AUTO 19008KT 10SM BKN033 BKN041 26/17 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP184 T02610172 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105027. 11.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14033461&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA214_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14033262&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20LA214%20FAA%20assessment-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14034338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA214-Rel.pdf - T6 parts manual excerpts (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14035071&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=T6%20Parts%20manual%20excerpts-Rel.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. --- 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.