Incident Overview
According to the pilot's report, the accident occurred after a local flight when the aircraft returned for a full-stop landing. During the rollout on the runway, the aircraft yawed slightly to the left. The pilot applied right rudder to correct the yaw, which was initially successful. However, the aircraft then veered sharply to the right, exited the runway, and ground looped in the adjoining dirt area. The pilot stated that he could not correct the right turn with further rudder or brake application.
Post-Accident Inspection
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector subsequently examined the aircraft. The inspection revealed that the left main landing gear strut had failed just above the wheel assembly. The inspector reported that the fracture face was "heavily discolored and had obviously been there a very long time," indicating that the failure was not new and likely pre-existed the flight.
Sequence of Events
The pilot's description suggests that the initial left yaw may have been unrelated to the subsequent right veer. The correction with right rudder temporarily stabilized the direction, but the sudden right turn likely occurred when the weakened left main strut gave way. The loss of structural integrity on the left side would cause the aircraft to pivot around the right main gear, explaining the inability to correct with rudder or brakes.
Investigation Findings
The investigation did not determine a specific probable cause for the accident. The FAA inspection documented the pre-existing crack in the left main strut, which was evidently a long-standing defect that had gone undetected. No further analysis or conclusions were provided in the source material.