On Sat, 7 Oct 2006 09:24:16 -0400, "Peter Dohm"
wrote:

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 6 Oct 2006 22:17:54 -0500, "Lady Pilot"
wrote:

"Roland Herwig, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in
Oklahoma City, said a preliminary inquiry found that the plane spun
around
briefly upon landing.

"Finnerty said Inhofe thinks there may have been a problem with the
plane's
rudder.

"The plane is old-fashioned, with two wheels in the front and one in the
back, Finnerty said."

Any clues?

Could be human error, could be mechanical error. The Senator wouldn't be
the
first pilot to lose control while landing a taildragger.

As for potential mechanical causes, could be a jammed brake, could be a
problem
with the tailwheel itself. We had a Maule at a local airport lose one of
the
links that connected the tailwheel to the rudder, a month or two back.
Depending on how the tailwheel control is set up, this could cause the
tailwheel
to turn sharply.

Ron Wanttaja

The same has happened down my way.

Tension springs can simply defy inspection--especially on a pre-flight.

We had one throw a spring here at 3BS on take off last summer or the
summer before. It shook but he already had rudder control. Other
than the pilot being a bit apprehensive on landing (he wasn't sure
what had happened but had a good idea). The landing was uneventful.
When he came to a stop they found the one spring hanging loose. I
don't think they found a reason for it coming off as it had plenty of
tension.



Peter

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com