NTSB Factual Report

On January 11, 2003, at 1710 eastern standard time, an Aviat Husky, N415JB, registered to and operated by N117RK Inc., veered off the runway during a landing on runway 03 at the Mark Anton Airport, in Dayton, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Dayton, Tennessee, on January 11, 2003 at 1640.

According to the pilot, he had been conducting touch-and-go landings, and on the third landing, the airplane veered to the right during the landing roll. The airplane rolled approximately 75 feet, and efforts by the pilot to correct for the right drift of the airplane failed. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway, and collided with a ditch.

The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the left rudder cable was not attached to the butterfly ring on the tail wheel. The spring clip that connects the rudder cable to the butterfly ring was found approximately 20 feet from where the airplane touched down on the runway. The pilot stated that the main landing gear wheel braking system was operational. According to the pilot, approximately two years earlier the tail wheel assembly was replaced. During the two years prior to the accident, the pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the tail wheel assembly.

Examination of the tail wheel assembly revealed that the pawl was installed incorrectly. Examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller was damaged, the left wing had spar damage, and landing gear was bent aft. Runway 03 is 5000 feet long and 75 feet wide.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll which resulted in a loss of control and collision with a ditch. A factor was separation of the spring clip from the landing gear steering system.