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May 30, 2024 · Banes John Scott Kitfox Series 6 · N506F

Parowan, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 30, 2024
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Parowan, UT
Aircraft
Banes John Scott Kitfox Series 6 (2004)
Tail Number
N506F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR24LA177

The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he felt a shimmy in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the subsequent three-point landing, the airplane veered left immediately upon touchdown. The airplane departed the left side of runway and ground looped, which collapsed the right main landing gear and substantially damaged the right wing. An NTSB structures engineer’s review of postaccident photographs of the tailwheel assembly determined that deformation and fracture features on the fitting flanges on the extruded base of the tailwheel assembly were from a twisting motion about the single bolt that secured the tailwheel assembly to the suspension assembly, consistent with that resulting from a tailwheel shimmy event. The accident circumstances and damage evidence are consistent with a failure of the tailwheel assembly due to improper movement or rotation around the tailwheel attachment bolt during the shimmy event during takeoff, which resulted in a subsequent loss of control of the airplane during landing. However, the investigation could not determine if the shimmy event resulted from a loose attachment bolt, or if the movement around the attachment bolt resulted from the shimmy event.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inability to control the airplane during landing due to tailwheel assembly damage sustained during a previous shimmy event that occurred for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Full Narrative

On May 30, 2024, about 1610 mountain daylight time, an amateur-built experimental Kitfox, N506F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Parowan, Utah. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had recently purchased the tailwheel equipped airplane and was conducting a cross-country flight to reposition the airplane. He reported that during takeoff for the accident flight he felt a shimmy in the airplane. He subsequently performed a three-point landing on runway 22 at Parowan Airport (1L9), Parowan, Utah. He reported that, immediately on touchdown, the airplane “unexplainably and severely turned left, and departed the runway” and ground looped. The right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported the wind was light and variable at the time of landing and there were no gusts. The airplane was equipped with a Matco, 11-inch, dual fork tailwheel assembly. Postaccident photographs of the airplane provided by the pilot showed that, at the accident scene, the tailwheel assembly was partially displaced to the left side of the airplane and the tailwheel was deflected to the right. The pilot also provided photographs taken of the tailwheel assembly after it was removed from the airplane, including several showing that the fitting flanges on the extruded base of the tailwheel assembly were damaged and fractured on both sides. The pilot reported that he examined the airplane’s brakes and no anomalies were found. A full examination of the tailwheel assembly was not conducted. An NTSB structures engineer’s review of the pilot-provided photographs determined that the damaged and fracture features on the extruded base fitting flanges resulted from a twisting motion about the single bolt that secured the tailwheel assembly to the suspension assembly (see figure). Figure. Damaged tailwheel assembly. (Source: Pilot.) The mode of fracture could not be determined from the photographs, but the deformation suggests shear overload on the flanges consistent with that resulting from a tailwheel shimmy event. Under normal operations, the tailwheel is designed caster about the vertical tailwheel axle such that there should be no rotation of the tailwheel about the attachment bolt that secures the tailwheel assembly to the suspension assembly. The investigation could not determine if the shimmy event resulted from a loose attachment bolt, or if the movement around the attachment bolt resulted from the shimmy event. The pilot reported that the airplane’s most recent condition inspection was performed on October 28, 2023. No detail about any specific pre-accident maintenance or inspection of the tailwheel was provided.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:10 MDT
Nearest AirportPAROWAN (0nm SW)
Runway04/2
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBanes John Scott Kitfox Series 6
Tail NumberN506F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 912 ULS-2 · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point28 F
Altimeter30.11 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data