Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 3100; Flight Crew Type 85
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Aircraft; Human Factors; Weather
This was the first flight following maintenance; during which the existing Maule tailwheel was replaced with a factory new ABI 3200 tailwheel. During maintenance; torque was also reset on the flight controls; the magnetos were replaced and both the throttle and carburetor heat cables were replaced.Departed and observed a stiff crosswind from the right. During the initial climb; I observed that the windsock near the approach end was fairly well aligned with the runway. I joined the downwind and performed a normal wheel landing to a full stop; with a slight crosswind from the left. I then took off and exited the traffic pattern to the south to put the aircraft through some maneuvers. Upon return to the field; I entered on a 45 to a downwind and observed that the windsock was much the same as before. I performed a wheel landing; touching down just beyond the 1;000 ft fixed distance markers. There was a slightly gusty crosswind from the left; and the aircraft began oscillate slightly around the yaw axis.As is standard practice; I 'pinned' the tailwheel as soon as I decelerated below flying speed. The aircraft immediately darted to the left (about 30 or 45 degrees); into the wind. I immediately applied downwind (right) rudder and rolled the ailerons into the wind (left); but the aircraft did not immediately begin to turn back to the right. I also immediately applied full power and raised the tailwheel in an effort to recover control and abandon the landing. I also released the right turning inputs when it became likely a right turn would result in a collision with runway lights and signage. Before the aircraft lifted off; I left the runway (just before the 4-thousand foot remaining sign) and entered about four to six inches of wet snow. I brought the power back to idle; and the aircraft stopped and nosed over. The nose over resulted in damage to the propeller; cowling and air box. It also caused a sudden stoppage of the engine. The aircraft then settled back into a three-point attitude. I immediately turned off the ELT; magnetos; and fuel valve; made a radio call requesting help; and exited the aircraft. When checking for fuel leaks or other hazards; I noticed that the tailwheel was rotated about 90-deg counter clockwise (when viewed from above) and was frozen in that position. There was no visible damage to the tailwheel. I do not believe that the aircraft sustained substantial damage and no other conditions for immediate reporting or preservation of wreckage applied. Because the aircraft was in the runway obstacle free area; we moved the aircraft (on its main wheels and a tailwheel dolly) back to its hangar.My remedy for this situation will depend on the root cause. If this turns out to be pilot error; clearly I should have been selecting a calmer day for a maintenance test flight in an aircraft with changed flight characteristics. If this turns out to be a mechanical fault with the tailwheel; I will need to investigate further to see if there is any way I could have caught the failure during the preflight inspection or initial taxi.
Stinson HW-75 pilot reported a ground nose-over resulted after a loss of directional control on the landing roll that could have been related to a new tailwheel.