# NTSB NYC05CA091: Auster Mark 6, N3675, Old Bridge, NJ, June 4, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 4, 2005, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Old Bridge, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.330001, -74.346664
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3300&lon=-74.3467&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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61632
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61632/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA091

## Probable cause

An overload failure of the right tailwheel steering arm.

## 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
  - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - overload (cause)
  - directional control - not possible
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The airplane landed on a 3,594-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway.  During the landing roll, the right tailwheel steering arm separated, which caused an uncontrollable right turn.  The airplane departed the right side of the runway, struck trees, and came to rest upright.  Examination of the tailwheel steering arm revealed that the fracture was adjacent to an apparent weld.  The fracture surface was consistent with overstress, with no evidence of fatigue or preexisting cracking.

## Factual narrative

On June 4, 2005, about 1415 eastern daylight time, an experimental Auster Mark 6, N3675, was substantially damaged while landing at Old Bridge Airport (3N6), Old Bridge, New Jersey.  The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed from Bayport Aerodrome, Bayport, New York.  No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that the airplane landed on runway 6 at 3N6, a 3,594-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway.  During the landing roll, the right tailwheel steering arm separated, which caused an uncontrollable right turn.  The airplane departed the right side of the runway, struck trees, and came to rest upright.  During the impact, the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder.

The airplane was manufactured in 1947.  Examination of the tailwheel steering arm at the Safety Board's Materials Laboratory revealed that the fracture was adjacent to an apparent weld.  The fracture surface was consistent with overstress, with no evidence of fatigue or preexisting cracking.  In addition, the bolt hole at the end of the steering arm was elongated, consistent with high loads.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3675](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3675), registered now, S/N TAY859BJ, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Auster Mark 6
- Registry model: [Auster MARK 6](https://openairdocs.org/model/auster-mark-6) (registry code 0881210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Dehav ENG GIPSY MAJOR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/dehav-eng-gipsy-major) (registry code 20004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TAY859BJ
- Engines: Rolls-Royce Gypsy Major reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stuart M. Bain
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 23N, Bayport, NY
- Destination: 3N6, Old Bridge, NJ
- Airport: 3N6, Old Bridge Airport, runway 6, 3,594 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3; flight hours: 750 total, 57 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F

## 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 20050604018829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050604018829A), Jun 4, 2005: MARK6, Old Bridge, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) Departed bay port, NY airport (23N) intended destination mcguire afb (wri) to static display his aircraft, due to weather departed 23N late. Late arrival…

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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