Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 300
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Procedure; Aircraft
After a routine approach and normal landing; I was unable to maintain runway centerline using the steerable tailwheel. Aircraft departed the runway to the left and stopped in the adjacent grass. No damage to airplane or property was encountered and there were no injuries.I think the mechanism that allows the tailwheel to free-caster (for towing purposes) had engaged thus making the tailwheel unsteerable. In the future; I plan to thoroughly check this during preflight and again prior to each landing.
The pilot of a tailwheeled aircraft was unable to control the tailwheel steering during landing rollout; resulting in a runway excursion.