SEA95LA030

During the landing roll, the airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot tried to correct with left rudder control; however, the airplane continued to the side of the runway and collided with a snow bank. The airplane travelled through the snow for several more feet before nosing over. Inspection of the tail wheel assembly revealed that a connection clip was sprung to the open position which resulted in the disconnection of the left side cable/spring. This cable/spring connects the lower rudder tail steering horn arm and the control arm on top of the tail wheel assembly.

On December 17, 1994, at 1440 mountain standard time, the pilot of a Maule MX-7-235, N101ZA, was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll and impacted a snow bank at the Heber City Airport, Heber City, Utah. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 17, 1994, at 1330, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the first touch-and-go, the airplane landed in a three point attitude approximately 10 knots above stall speed. The pilot noted "some tail wheel shimmy, but not unusual from shimmy experience on previous landings during other flights." The airplane took off and the pilot stated that during the second touch-and-go, the airplane touched down at 50 knots and rolled approximately 200 feet when the airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot tried to correct with left rudder control, however, the airplane continued to the right and collided with a snow bank along side the runway. The airplane travelled several feet in the snow before nosing over.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Salt Lake City, Utah, Flight Standards District Office, inspected the tail wheel assembly and found that the left side cable/spring which connects the lower rudder tail steering horn arm and the control arm on top of the tail wheel assembly was disconnected. A connection clip was found sprung to the open position which resulted in the disconnection of the cable/spring.