NTSB Factual Report

According to the pilot, he was seated in the front seat of the tandem seat, tailwheel equipped airplane, and made a three-point landing and applied full aft stick pressure once the tailwheel was on the ground. He could not recall the airspeed, but the airplane abruptly veered to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed and subsequently the right wing struck the ground.

The pilot asserted that the loss of control was the result of a mechanical failure of the right main landing gear wheel race and bearings.

The pilot-rated passenger, who was a flight instructor, reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform a pre-buy inspection for the pilot. He reported that there was a slight crosswind from the left about 3 knots during the three-point landing, and the stall warning horn activated. He described the landing as "perfect", but during the landing roll, the airplane veered hard to the left and ground looped.

The Federal Aviation Administration, Aviation Safety Inspector who examined the airplane after the accident determined that the right main landing gear wheel assembly "folded under the end of the gear leg and then separated."

The airplane manufacture examined the wheel assembly, and reported that, "an extreme sideload on the right tire caused the subsequent cascading failure of the right wheel and brake assembly."

The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 180° at 7 knots. The pilot landed to runway 22L.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.