# NTSB IAD05LA049: Taylorcraft F19, N3679T, Northampton, MA, March 19, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 2005, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Northampton, MA - Coordinates: 42.328056, -72.611389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3281&lon=-72.6114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Windsor Locks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61228/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot/owner's improper decision to conduct the flight with a known deficiency in equipment, which resulted in a loss of control when the tailwheel springs became disconnected. Factors were the disconnection of the tailwheel springs, the snow bank, and operataion with known deficiencies in equipment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - disconnected (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the landing roll, while the pilot/owner was turning the airplane to exit the runway, it departed the runway and impacted a snow bank. Both pilots onboard reported that the tailwheel springs had become disconnected. According to the pilot/owner, the springs had also become disconnected during a previous flight, and the airplane departed the runway. A flight instructor, who had flown with the pilot/owner during that flight, stated that he advised the pilot/owner that he would not fly the airplane again until the pilot/owner had addressed the problem with the tailwheel springs. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 2005, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Taylorcraft F19, N3679T, was substantially damaged during a landing rollout at Northampton Airport (7B2), Northampton, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot/owner, and certificated commercial pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, and during a telephone interview, the commercial pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was for him to familiarize the private pilot with the operation of the tailwheel-equipped airplane. While in the airport traffic pattern, the commercial pilot performed two landings, and the private pilot performed three. The private pilot was at the flight controls when the accident occurred. In a written statement, and during a telephone interview, the private pilot stated that during the landing rollout, he was turning the airplane in order to exit the runway on a particular taxiway. At the start of the turn he felt pressure on the rudder pedals; however, as the turn progressed, he felt no rudder pressure and could not straighten the airplane. The tail of the airplane continued to turn and impacted a snow bank. Both the private pilot and the commercial pilot stated that the tailwheel springs became disconnected from the rudder horn. The private pilot stated that during a previous flight in the accident airplane, with a flight instructor, the tailwheel springs had become disconnected, and the airplane departed the runway during the landing rollout. The airplane did not sustain any damage, and neither he nor the instructor received any injuries during the runway excursion. He could not recall how the tail springs became disconnected during either flight, and also stated that the airplane performed similarly during both landings. During a telephone interview, the flight instructor from the previous flight stated that he had told the pilot that he would not fly in the accident airplane again until the pilot had addressed the problem with the tailwheel springs. Following the accident flight, the pilot elected to replace the entire tailwheel assembly. The weather reported at Westover Metropolitan Airport (CEF), Springfield, Massachusetts, located about 9 nautical miles southeast, at 1355, included winds from 250 degrees at 8 knots. The report also contained the remark WND DATA ESTMD. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3679T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3679T), registered now, S/N F-079, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft F19 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F19](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f19) (registry code 8850904) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-079 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 2004, 13 hours before - Departed: 7B2, Northampton, MA - Airport: 7B2, Northampton Airport, runway 32, 3,365 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 390 total, 15 in this make and model - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 25, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 1,786 total, 570 in this make and model, 1,722 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: CEF, 9 nm away ## 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 20050319004979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050319004979A), Mar 19, 2005: Tcraft F19, North Hampton, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) The PIC pilot (right seat) stated, after landing and rollout, when transitioning from the runway to the taxiway, the tailwheel spring became… ## Other investigations on N3679T (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 IAD79FKW10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FKW10), May 24, 1979: Taylorcraft F-19 (N3679T), Elk Valley, TN, substantial damage 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.