Boeing B75N1 N47964 accident near Mesa, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that as the tailwheel-equipped airplane decelerated after touchdown, it tracked left of the runway centerline. He applied corrective control inputs; however, the airplane continued to track left and departed the runway. The right wing contacted the ground and was substantially damaged during the runway excursion. The pilot reported that during the recently completed 100-hour annual inspection, the tailwheel suspension strut was modified with a different type of strut and that the new strut did not compress on landing until after right rudder was applied. However, review of the tailwheel strut design revealed that the strut only affects the vertical movement of the tailwheel, and has no lateral control effects. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13CA162 for the full record.