# NTSB SEA95LA030: Maule MX-7-235, N101ZA, Heber City, UT, December 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 1994, 14:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Heber City, UT - Coordinates: 40.429977, -111.190818 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4300&lon=-111.1908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42094 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42094/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA030 ## Probable cause AN OPEN CONNECTION CLIP. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOCKED TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY. ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - open (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - locked (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank - Nose over, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: [N101ZA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N101ZA-2012-12-04), registration cancelled 2012-12-04, S/N 10074C, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE MX-7-235 - Registry model: [Maule MX-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-235) (registry code 5470207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10074C - Airframe hours: 330 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-JIA5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Zipper Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1994, 24 hours before - Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Destination: 36U, UT - Airport: 36U, Heber City, runway 21, 6,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 271 total, 141 in this make and model, 251 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 31 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 19941217041699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941217041699A), Dec 17, 1994: Maule MX7235, Heber, UT, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. Veered off runway into a snowbank landing. Nosed over. Cable spring disconnected. 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.