As The Tailwheel Touched The Ground, The Airplane Swung Hard To The Right

Location: Prescott, AZ Accident Number: WPR24LA061
Date & Time: December 26, 2023, 12:25 Local Registration: N29TT
Aircraft: Glasair SH2 Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On December 26. 2023, about 1225 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built Glasair SH2, N29TT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that after an uneventful wheel landing on runway 21L, he held the tail off the ground until the airplane had decelerated to about 30 mph. As soon as the tailwheel touched the ground, the airplane swung hard to the right, ground looped, and came to rest on the runway edge.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward left fuselage which had buckled and delaminated just above the left main landing gear leg. The left fuel tank was also breached and leaking fuel. Post accident examination revealed that the tailwheel was jammed at a 45 ° angle to the left.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov