# NTSB ERA24LA024: Piper PA-12, N3910M, Rangeley, ME, October 27, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 27, 2023, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Rangeley, ME - Coordinates: 44.99257, -70.660042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9926&lon=-70.6600&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - 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): 193321 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193321/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193321 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA024 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a crosswind, after the right tailwheel spring separated. ## 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: [Piper PA-12, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101202), [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: [Piper PA-12, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear steering system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023250/cases.md?model=7101202), [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-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-12, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The tailwheel equipped airplane veered to the left during the landing roll and nosed over when the pilot attempted to correct by utilizing the airplane’s brakes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The right tailwheel spring was found disconnected. Subsequent inspection of the right tail-wheel spring revealed tooling marks, and that the attachment loop had been closed back towards its original radius. When asked about the tooling marks on the separated spring, the pilot/owner suggested they may have occurred during a previous annual inspection or “when it fell off a few years ago when I had a bad tailwheel shimmy.” At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 32 with wind from 250° at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3910M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3910M), registered now, S/N 12-2808, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2808 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3238.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2023, 25.8 hours before - Departed: OWK, Norridgewock, ME - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 8B0, Stephen A Bean Muni, runway 32, 4,299 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,370 total, 252 in this make and model, 2,370 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: 8B0 - METAR: K8B0 271835Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM SCT060 SCT080 BKN100 18/13 A2998 RMK AO2= ## 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 20231027017999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231027017999A), Oct 27, 2023: Piper PA-12, Rangley, ME, Substantial damage. PIC indicated the touchdown was uneventful. 3-point landing. Slight tailwheel shimmy, and aircraft began to veer left. PIC corrected with additional right… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193321. 10.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16518864&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20FORM%206120%20-%20N%203910M_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16517113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Pilot responses to FAA questions (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17406100&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Response%20to%20FAA%20Questions_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos from owner (item 4, PDF, 10 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17405678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3910M%20post%20mishap%20pics%20from%20Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement second inspection (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 611 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16519023&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Keefe,%20John%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Materials laboratory consult (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17370540&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Michael%20Meadows-Rel.pdf - Photo array - tailwheel springs (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17602061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.