At about 13:30 Pacific time, a Cessna 185F ground-looped on landing at Reno. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot stated the landing was uneventful until he lowered the tail to the ground, at which point the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The pilot told investigators that several previous occasions the tailwheel seemed to stick initially and cause the airplane to deviate from the selected track but would eventually free up and track straight. Inspection showed the tailwheel rotated freely until moved it to its maximum left deflection limit, at which point it locked.
December 18, Reno, Nev. / Cessna 185
At about 13:30 Pacific time, a Cessna 185F ground-looped on landing at Reno. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot stated the landing was uneventful until he lowered the tail to the ground, at which point the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The pilot told investigators that several previous occasions the tailwheel seemed to stick initially and cause the airplane to deviate from the selected track but would eventually free up and track straight. Inspection showed the tailwheel rotated freely until moved it to its maximum left deflection limit, at which point it locked....
Key Takeaways:
- A Cessna 185F ground-looped on landing at Reno, with the pilot and passenger uninjured.
- The pilot reported the aircraft suddenly veered left upon lowering the tail, noting previous occasions where the tailwheel seemed to stick.
- An inspection revealed the tailwheel locked when moved to its maximum left deflection limit.
See a mistake? Contact us.
