Beechcraft RC-45J N11249

Summary

On 20 August 1987 at about 01:00 local time, a Beechcraft RC-45J registered N11249, operated by Frank Bell, was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

20 August 1987 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Weiser (T17)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft RC-45J

Registration

N11249

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Frank Bell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW87LA205

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS, ALMOST TO A FULL STOP, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE HAD ASKED A COMMERCIAL PILOT TO ACCOMPANY HIM ON THIS FLIGHT. THE PLT STATED THAT ON THE FOURTH LANDING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WENT SLIGHTLY OFF THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND WHEN THE PLT CORRECTED, THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO JUMP OR BOUNCE AND ENTERED A SKID TO THE RIGHT WHICH WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE TAIL WHEEL WAS FOUND IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION AND WAS SWIVELED TO A POSITION FOR A HARD RIGHT TURN EVEN THOUGH THE LOCKING PIN WAS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. APPARENTLY THE TAIL WHEEL BECAME UNLOCKED DURING OR AFTER THE THIRD LANDING DUE TO EXCESS WEAR ON THE PIN AND/OR THE PIN HOLE AND BECAME COCKED SO THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST WHEN THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.