NORTH AMERICAN HARVARD MK
Dayton, OH — September 28, 2008
Event Information
| Date | September 28, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CHI08CA295 |
| Event ID | 20081007X83950 |
| Location | Dayton, OH |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 39.69722, -83.99028 |
| Airport | Greene County |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | NORTH AMERICAN |
| Model | HARVARD MK |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
Improper maintenance on the tail wheel anti-shimmy mechanism and the pilot's decision to continue operating the airplane with a known shimmy in the tail wheel.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that when the tail wheel touched down during landing, he felt a "severe oscillation" which prevented him from maintaining directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway where it contacted a ditch, collapsing the left main landing gear. The pilot reported that he had always been able to control the airplane in the past with the tail wheel shimmy by using the brakes. Inspection of the airplane revealed the tail wheel clutch locking assembly cam was worn. In addition, the anti-shimmy friction spring was tightened down beyond limits.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.