Accident Maule MX-7-235 N101ZA, Saturday 17 December 1994

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Date:	Saturday 17 December 1994
Time:	16:40 LT
Type:	Maule MX-7-235
Owner/operator:	Zipper Aviation, Inc.
Registration:	N101ZA
MSN:	10074C
Total airframe hrs:	330 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-540-JIA5D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Heber City, UT - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Salt Lake City, UT (KSLC)
Destination airport:	(36U)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT TRIED TO CORRECT WITH LEFT RUDDER CONTROL; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED THROUGH THE SNOW FOR SEVERAL MORE FEET BEFORE NOSING OVER. INSPECTION OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT A CONNECTION CLIP WAS SPRUNG TO THE OPEN POSITION WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISCONNECTION OF THE LEFT SIDE CABLE/SPRING. THIS CABLE/SPRING CONNECTS THE LOWER RUDDER TAIL STEERING HORN ARM AND THE CONTROL ARM ON TOP OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Probable Cause: AN OPEN CONNECTION CLIP. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOCKED TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

Accident investigation: