N185BBCessna A185F · 1977

On September 8, 2021, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N185BB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arlington, Washington. The flight instructor, pilot receiving instruction, and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The flight instructor of the tailwheel airplane reported that, after the pilot receiving instruction performed several landings, he assumed control of the airplane to demonstrate a wheel landing. During the landing roll to runway 16, as the tailwheel touched down, the airplane veered to the right. While attempting to correct with brake and rudder, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and ground looped to the right. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer struck the surface.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the tailwheel fitting spring attachment was partially fractured and rotated about 90° from its normal position.

The tailwheel fitting spring attachment was sent to National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC, for examination. The examination of the fracture surface revealed fatigue cracking that initiated at the fillet weld gap between the fitting cross tube and the attachment brace. The fatigue cracks initiated at corrosion pits that had formed along the outer diameter surface of the tube within the gap against the brace. These characteristics were consistent with crevice corrosion.

A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that, about a month prior to the accident flight, the tailwheel fitting spring attachment was removed, and new bushings and washers were replaced. The tailwheel fitting spring was then reinstalled with new hardware. The age of the tailwheel fitting spring attachment could not be determined.