Twin Beech 18
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 29; Flight Crew Total 2152; Flight Crew Type 14
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
After landing on main landing gear and rolling out. Once the tail came down the aircraft tail went to the left. Could not correct by differential power or braking; executed a go-around in order to recover. Landed the second time prepared for the lack of directional control. Both wing tips struck the ground when initially recovering.
The reporter stated that somehow the tailwheel became unlocked in flight so that during the first landing he was able to execute a go around but during the second landing he was unable to control the aircraft.
A BE-18 tail wheel became unlocked in flight; so that after landing the pilot lost control of the aircraft and both wing tips struck the ground while he recovered.