ATL84LA018

Factual narrative

WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT WAS ROLLING STRAIGHT DOWN THE CENTERLINE OF THE RWY WHEN THE PLT FELT A BUMP & REAR OF THE ACFT DROPPED. AT THE SAME TIME, ALL DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST & THE RUDDER PEDALS WENT FORWARD TO THE FIREWALL. THE ACFT STARTED WEATHERVANING INTO THE X-WIND & VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. AFTER LEAVING THE RWY,IT HIT A LOW BANK OF SOFT DIRT, THEN NOSED OVER & FLIPPED IN THE AIR & FINALLY CAME TO REST, RIGHT SIDE UP. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE FIBERGLASS ROD, USED AS A SUPPORT & SPRING FOR THE TAILWHEEL, HAD FAILED. WITH IT BROKEN LOOSE, THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE RUDDER. NO BUMPS WERE FOUND ON THE RWY, BUT A CRACK WAS FOUND WHERE THE 2 HALVES OF ASPHALT PAVEMENT MET AT THE CENTERLINE. THE CRACK WAS SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN THE NARROW TAILWHEEL OF THE ACFT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12