What happened
The pilot was operating a tailwheel and tundra-tire equipped airplane when attempting to land on runway 19. During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a crosswind condition. The wind was reported to be from approximately 230 degrees at a speed of 10 knots.
As the airplane touched down, it began to ground loop toward the right edge of the runway in response to the wind. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation by applying left brake pressure. However, the aircraft continued its movement toward the right side of the runway despite the braking effort.
The right main gear strut fractured just above the right wheel axle during this maneuver. Following the structural failure, the right tire made contact with the right side of the airplane's body. This impact resulted in the buckling of the right side of the fuselage.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site and the aircraft revealed that the right main gear strut had broken at the point just above the right wheel axle. The mechanical failure allowed the tire to strike the airframe, leading to the observed structural deformation on the right side of the fuselage.
Findings
Contributing factors included the crosswind conditions during landing and the subsequent ground loop toward the runway edge. The pilot's application of left brake pressure was insufficient to prevent the aircraft from continuing its trajectory into the right side of the runway, resulting in the gear failure and subsequent fuselage damage.