Event Description
During the landing rollout on a 6,000-foot-long, 30-foot-wide macadam road, the pilot experienced a tailwheel shimmy immediately after touchdown. The aircraft began a right drift, which the pilot corrected using left rudder/steering inputs. Once the aircraft was re-established on the centerline, the pilot applied right rudder/steering, but these inputs produced no effect. The aircraft continued to the left and rolled off the left side of the road, which was sloped. While departing the road surface, the left main landing gear impacted a rock, causing the left gear to collapse.
The pilot reported observing a windsock after the landing, which indicated a left quartering tailwind at the time of the landing. Prior to the landing, the pilot had been advised by radio that winds were calm.
Postcrash Examination
A postcrash examination of the aircraft revealed a mechanical malfunction within the tailwheel steering mechanism. This malfunction prevented right tailwheel steering, consistent with the pilot's report that right rudder/steering inputs were ineffective during the landing roll.