# NTSB WPR09CA136: Piper PA-22-160, N8637D, Ogden, UT, February 21, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 21, 2009, 12:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Ogden, UT - Coordinates: 41.195556, -112.012779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1956&lon=-112.0128&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminsitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73418 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73418/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA136 ## Probable cause The loss of directional control during the landing roll due to the separation of the tailwheel spring retaining clip for unknown reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7102214), [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-22-160, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the tailwheel-equipped airplane started veering to the right during the landing roll. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, and tipped onto its left wing tip, damaging the left elevator, before coming to rest upright within a snow bank. According to the pilot, the left tailwheel steering link (spring retaining clip), Univair Part number 2133, was missing from the tailwheel assembly and a search failed to locate it on the runway or near the airplane. A missing tailwheel steering link would allow the tailwheel to freely caster. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that the tail wheel-equipped airplane started veering to the right during the landing roll. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, and tipped onto its left wing tip damaging the left elevator, before coming to rest upright within a snow bank. According to the pilot, the left tail wheel steering link (spring retaining clip), Univair Part no. 2133, was missing from the tail wheel assembly and a search failed to locate it on the runway or near the airplane. A missing tail wheel steering link would allow the tail wheel to freely caster. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8637D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8637D-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 22-5845, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-5845 - Airframe hours: 2538 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Carl William Shepard - Registered owner: Aviation Experience LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2009 - Departed: BMC, Brigham City, UT - Destination: OGD, Ogden, UT - Airport: OGD, Ogden Hinkley Airport, runway 16, 5,195 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 13,512 total, 145 in this make and model, 5,700 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg ## 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 20090221000989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090221000989A), Feb 21, 2009: Piper PA22160, Ogden, UT, Substantial damage. From pilot's statement: landing was normal at touchdown with appropriate crosswind controls keeping the aircraft tracking down runway centerline. After tail… 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.