Probable cause
The bent tailwheel spring that allowed the tailwheel to caster when the airplane encountered a wind gust on landing roll.
NTSB analysis
On downwind, the pilot noticed that the wind had increased and that there was light turbulence. He planned to land beyond some trees to avoid turbulence. The airplane encountered a wind gust during the landing roll. The pilot applied rudder and aileron corrections along with heavy braking. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a pipe rack resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a tailwheel spring was bent, and its spring rate was weak, which allowed the tailwheel's fork to caster freely by not engaging into its machined locking detent.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA185 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 11, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Belle Chase, Louisiana
- Nearest airport
- Southern Seaplane Airport (65LA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 180H
- N-number
- N3424Y
- 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.