Glasair SH2 N29TT

Summary

On 26 December 2023 at about 19:21 local time, a Glasair SH2 registered N29TT was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 December 2023 at 19:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Prescott, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Prescott Rgnl - Ernest A Love (PRC)

Coordinates

34.6548, -112.4192

Aircraft

Glasair SH2

Registration

N29TT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1986

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Safford → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA061

Nobody was injured.

Loss of directional control during landing due to an improperly constructed and maintained tailwheel locking assembly.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

When the airplane’s tailwheel touched the ground during landing, the airplane immediately swerved and ground looped, causing substantial damage to the fuselage due to sideloads on the landing gear. The weather conditions were not a factor, and examination revealed that the tailwheel was jammed 45° relative to the direction of travel. Further examination revealed that the tailwheel assembly locking mechanism was significantly worn and had been incorrectly constructed, so a positive lock was not possible. Under this condition, with light side loads as are often encountered during landing, the tailwheel could unlock and be pushed into an over center position. This resulted in the airplane aggressively swerving as observed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.