Mead Flying Service Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mead, Washington 99021
Wednesday, August 31, 2005 18:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown (three-point landing) the airplane developed a significant vibration/shimmy emanating from the area of the tailwheel. He reported that immediately after the onset of the vibration the airplane began to "pull to the right." The pilot applied corrective actions, however the airplane continued to track to the right and exited the runway edge. After exiting the runway, the airplane collided with a berm and ground looped. The pilot reported that a post accident examination of the tailwheel assembly revealed that the left control spring was disconnected. The pilot further stated that he believed the control spring become disconnected as a result of the shimmy during landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Separation of the tailwheel assembly spring resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent collision with a berm. The berm was a factor in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Mead
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99021
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 474729N
Event Location Longitude Pleseen.
Event Location Airport MEAD FLYING SERVICE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 70S
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1900
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 5
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19432
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2006 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1829P
NTSB Number SEA05LA185
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-2609
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 58
Airframe Hours 2051
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dennis J. Carlson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Olympia
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98513
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 44T
Departure City Olympia
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1625
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 70S
Destination City Mead
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 13 2006 4:20PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --