Hall KITFOX N87TJ

Summary

On 30 August 2019 at about 14:37 local time, a Hall KITFOX registered N87TJ was involved in an accident near Nampa, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 August 2019 at 14:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Nampa, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Nampa Municipal Airport (MAN)

Coordinates

43.5756, -116.5206

Aircraft

Hall KITFOX

Registration

N87TJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1988

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Caldwell → Nampa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19TA248

1 person had minor injuries.

The owner's improper installation of the tailwheel, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing as a result of severe tailwheel vibrations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff in the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane, he experienced a hard shimmy before liftoff. Following an uneventful flight, the pilot landed the airplane onto the main landing gear. When the tailwheel touched down, the airplane immediately became uncontrollable and unresponsive. The airplane was rolling toward the right side of the runway and the pilot applied the brakes in an attempt to slow the airplane. The propeller contacted the runway surface before the airplane exited the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that, about 6 to 8 weeks before the accident, the owner installed a larger tailwheel on the airplane. The original tailwheel was about 3 or 4 inches in diameter. The new tailwheel was about 6 inches in diameter. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane was equipped with a 1 1/4-inch tailwheel leaf spring. The new tailwheel was designed for a 1 1/2-inch tailwheel leaf spring; therefore, a shim would have been required to ensure proper installation. In addition, a longer bolt would be needed to ensure that the bolt would properly secure within the locking nut. The examination revealed that the bolt was still present in the leaf spring, but the locking nut was not present and was not located along the runway. The washer was found underneath the tail, and there were no indications that a shim was installed. The bolt was removed from the leaf spring and measured; it was not long enough to reach the locking portion of the locking nut. Since the bolt was not long enough to reach the locking portion of the locking nut, it is likely that the nut vibrated loose during normal operations, which caused excessive play in the tailwheel during landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.