T-6 ground loop @ Merrit Island, FL

[snj-5]

Saw it on the accident run this morning (no injuries).

Bela P. Havasreti

http://www.faa.gov/data_statistics/accident_incident/preliminary_data/events01/media/06_7861B.txt

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?verified=1&NNumbertxt=7861B

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6429353&nseq=0

[Taylor Stevenson]

Is that the SNJ the one midwest texans restored?

[cg51]

Yes, hope the damage is not to bad

[bluehawk15]

I wonder if it had tailwheel problems? I know of one T-6 that had it's tailwheel go balistic when it landed and it probably would have ground looped, if there hadn't been a big, fairly deep ditch beside the runway.

Has anyone ever experienced such a thing with their tailwheel?

[A2C]

Has anyone ever experienced such a thing with their tailwheel?

If so, that means the engaging spring for the lock pin wasn't working right.

[Matt Gunsch]

I wonder if it had tailwheel problems? I know of one T-6 that had it's tailwheel go balistic when it landed and it probably would have ground looped, if there hadn't been a big, fairly deep ditch beside the runway.

Has anyone ever experienced such a thing with their tailwheel?

no, all the tailwheels I have ever had managed to stay in low earth orbit.

What do you mean ballistic ? Do you mean a shimmy ? the only way a T-6 tailwheel can shimmy is due to a worn locking plate, or pin, if the stick is pushed far enough forward to unlock the tailwheel, or in a SNJ, the tailwheel is not locked for landing.

[Randy Wilson]

Well, I've been in the back with severe tailwheel shimmy in an SNJ several times and just left odd marks on the pavement. Had the tailwheel of the old CAF FM-2 break off due to internal corrosion/cracking and become a great rubber tail skid held on by the springs and finally, watched a friend land a Pitts S-2A and lose the tailwheel right after touchdown and the wheel passed the plane as it used the tailwheel spring as a skid. Stuff happens. I hope all are well and damage is minimal.

Randy

[jet1]

cause they are PRETTY and TOUGH old birds!

[Jack Cook]

probably would have ground looped, if there hadn't been a big, fairly deep ditch beside the runway.

I'm sorry but what????

[skybolt2003]

probably would have ground looped, if there hadn't been a big, fairly deep ditch beside the runway.

I'm sorry but what????

I love it when I'm saved by a hairy ground-loop by a big ditch! (?)

(I dragged both wings once, but didn't go around, and went 1/2 way around once but didn't drag anything . . .)

[Hvd2Pilot]

I've had a pretty big shimmy in a Fleet Canuck...all it did was scare the crap out of my passenger.

An improper rake angle of the T-6 can also produce a shimmy. I had that this past summer. I added nitrogen into the tail oleo & problem solved.

[Matt Gunsch]

I've had a pretty big shimmy in a Fleet Canuck...all it did was scare the crap out of my passenger.

An improper rake angle of the T-6 can also produce a shimmy. I had that this past summer. I added nitrogen into the tail oleo & problem solved.

That should have been caught on the preflight, esp since it is soo easy to check on the T-6 series

[sdennison]

Good looking bird. Any photos post-loop?

[avenger2504]

Not the Harvard in question but dramatic nonetheless! (page down in the link and you will see what I mean)

http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi? ... 337&page=4

[Jack Cook]

The one I was in went sidways off the runway and the right main snapped after we plowed the the soft dirt. Note the left in tweaked also.