PITTSFIELD, ME, USA
N61058
Cessna 150
THE CESSNA 150 HAD BEEN MODIFIED WITH A CUSTOM AIRCRAFT/TAILWHEEL CONVERSTION (STC SA-2846-SW) AND AN AERO-SKI CONVERSION (STC SA-672-GL). THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A 'SEVERE' TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY AND A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON A PAVED RUNWAY. THIS WAS THE FIRST PAVED RUNWAY LANDING AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND ITS LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. BEFORE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE PILOT REQUESTED THAT PROBLEMS WITH TAIL WHEEL STEERING BE CHECKED. IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY PREVENTED A DETERMINATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION.
On July 5, 1993, about 1630 hours eastern daylight time, N61058, a Cessna 150 with a tail wheel conversion, was substantially damaged after ground looping on landing at the Pittsfield Airport, Maine. The airplane was operated by John M. Miller, Carmel, Maine. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from Newport, Maine, about 1600 hours, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot reported that the accident occurred about one hour of flight time since the airplane's last annual inspection. Prior to the inspection, the pilot stated that the airplane had tailwheel control problems and "tailwheel shimmy"; he had asked that these problems be checked and repaired. Following the annual inspection, the pilot departed from his private airstrip in Newburgh, Maine, and performed a landing onto another grass strip at the Newport Skypark, Maine. He then departed from the Newport Skypark and flew to the Pittsfield Airport. This airport has a 4,000 foot paved runway. He reported that after a "normal" approach with no wind, the airplane had a "severe tailwheel vibration and shimmy" after touchdown. The pilot stated that the airplane then veered sharply to the right and he "had no control using the tailwheel." The airplane ground looped and the left main landing gear collapsed. According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, post impact damage to the tailwheel assembly prevented a reliable determination of the existence of any pre existing mechanical malfunctions.
LOSS OF THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASON(S).
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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