What happened
The pilot prepared to land on a 6,000-foot-long, 30-foot-wide macadam road after receiving radio reports of calm winds. Upon touchdown, the tailwheel began to shimmy, causing the aircraft to drift to the right. The pilot attempted to correct this movement using left rudder and steering.
Once the aircraft was established on the centerline, the pilot applied right rudder/steering; however, this input had no effect. Consequently, the aircraft rolled off the left side of the sloped road. During this excursion, the left main landing gear struck a rock, which caused the gear to collapse. Immediately following the landing, the pilot noted a windsock indicating a left quartering tailwind.
The investigation
A postcrash examination of the aircraft was conducted. Investigators identified a mechanical malfunction within the tailwheel steering mechanism, which had prevented the application of right tailwheel steering during the landing roll.