Probable cause
The failure of the tailwheel compression spring, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was flying to an airport with a maintenance facility to have a tailwheel shimmy repaired. Upon arrival at the destination airport, the pilot performed a three point landing, and, during the landing roll, the rudder pedals began to “shudder violently.” The pilot was unable to control the airplane, and it exited the right side of the runway. During the runway excursion, the left wing hit the ground. Postaccident disassembly of the tailwheel revealed that the tailwheel compression spring had broken. The failure of the compression spring allowed the tailwheel to caster freely making controllability of the airplane on the ground difficult.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10LA457 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 2, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Burnet, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Burnet Municipal Airport (BMQ)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 180B
- N-number
- N5177E
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.