<< >> NASA ASRS Report 403000, May 1998

A DC3 on taxiing to the runup area struck a taxiway sign while turning incurring damage to the propeller. Caused by the failure of the tailwheel to unlock during the turn.

Attributes
ACN	403000
Time
Date	199805
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bfi
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	DC-3/Dakota/Skytrain
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3880 flight time type : 33
ASRS Report	403000
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : ground less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I pulled up to the runup area at A1, turning into the wind and locking the tailwheel for the runup. I noticed the sign when I approached the area. After the turn, however, it was hidden by the cowl and associated aircraft structure. The airplane would turn only slightly to the left. I thought that I had enough room to clear the sign, but in fact struck it with the propeller. On further investigation, I think the tailwheel did not release due to a side load on the locking pin. After exiting the aircraft I examined the tailwheel. It appeared to be held straight even though the cockpit release was out (unlocked).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC3 ON TAXIING TO THE RUNUP AREA STRUCK A TXWY SIGN WHILE TURNING INCURRING DAMAGE TO THE PROP. CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE TAILWHEEL TO UNLOCK DURING THE TURN.

Narrative: I PULLED UP TO THE RUNUP AREA AT A1, TURNING INTO THE WIND AND LOCKING THE TAILWHEEL FOR THE RUNUP. I NOTICED THE SIGN WHEN I APCHED THE AREA. AFTER THE TURN, HOWEVER, IT WAS HIDDEN BY THE COWL AND ASSOCIATED ACFT STRUCTURE. THE AIRPLANE WOULD TURN ONLY SLIGHTLY TO THE L. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO CLR THE SIGN, BUT IN FACT STRUCK IT WITH THE PROP. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I THINK THE TAILWHEEL DID NOT RELEASE DUE TO A SIDE LOAD ON THE LOCKING PIN. AFTER EXITING THE ACFT I EXAMINED THE TAILWHEEL. IT APPEARED TO BE HELD STRAIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE COCKPIT RELEASE WAS OUT (UNLOCKED).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.