NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CHI93DEM01
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
inadequate lubrication of the tailwheel bearings and inadequate preflight by the pilot/owner which resulted in a seized tailwheel.
Factual narrative
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On June 3, 1993, at 1029 eastern daylight time, a Corben Jr, Ace, N17BA, registered to and piloted by Mr. Brian Amato was substantially damaged when it swerved to the left during its landing roll on runway 36 (5108' X 150' dry asphalt) at the Traverse City, Cherry Capital City Airport, Traverse City, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The pilot, the sole occupant was not injured. The pilot stated that once all three wheels were on the ground, the airplane made a slight veer to the left which he attempted to correct with right rudder. There was no response from the right rudder pedal and the aircraft continued to turn left entering what he describes as a classic ground loop, dropping the right wing to the pavement.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot possess a commercial pilot certificate, with an airplane single-engine land, private pilot rating, issued on October 31,1991. His second class medical certificate without restrictions was issued on August 30, 1991.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was a Brian Amato, Corben Junior Ace, an experimental home built, constructed by the registered owner.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
On scene investigation revealed that the right main landing gear had collapsed, to the left, under the fuselage. The wooden propeller was destroyed and damage to the right main wing spar and some wing ribs was incurred.
TEST AND RESEARCH
Post event inspection of the Scott tailwheel revealed a lack of lubrication and seized wheel bearings. Testing indicated that the dragging tail wheel could cause the wheel to be pulled from its spring loaded indent causing a loss of rudder pedal/ tail wheel control. THE PILOT STATED THAT ALL THREE WHEELS OF THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE WERE ON THE GROUND AFTER LANDING. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A LEFT HAND TURN WHICH THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY RESPONSE FROM HIS RIGHT RUDDER APPLICATION. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TURN LEFT ENTERING A GROUND LOOP WITH THE RIGHT WING TIP DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING MAIN SPAR WAS DAMAGED. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED A LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THE TAILWHEEL BEARINGS. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE WHEEL BEING PULLED FROM ITS SPRING LOADED INDENT CAUSING A LOSS OF RUDDER PEDAL/TAILWHEEL CONTROL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1993_CHI93DEM01.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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