Taylorcraft BC12-D N43766 accident near Somerville, New Jersey

Probable cause

The loss of directional control during the landing roll due to the separation of the tailwheel centering spring for an undetermined reason.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that after landing on Runway 12, the airplane began to veer to the right. His attempts to maintain directional control were unsuccessful and the airplane departed the right side of the runway, striking a plastic storage container and another airplane that was tied down. The impact damaged the right wing strut. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 080 degrees at 5 knots. During a subsequent examination of the wreckage, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found that the forward clevis fitting and attaching hardware were missing from the left hand tailwheel centering spring, which caused the airplane to be uncontrollable. The clevis fitting and attaching hardware were not recovered.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09CA336 for the full record.