What happened
The incident occurred while a student pilot was conducting flight training maneuvers. The pilot was attempting a series of touch-and-go landings on the active runway. During the third attempt, the pilot executed a three-point landing technique. As the aircraft settled onto the pavement, it began to drift toward the left side of the runway.
In response to the lateral deviation, the student applied right rudder input to correct the heading. Observing that the rudder alone was insufficient to maintain directional control, the pilot subsequently applied the right brake. This asymmetric braking action caused the aircraft to make a sharp, hard turn to the right. The excessive stress on the landing gear structure led to the immediate separation of the left main landing gear strut. Following the gear failure, the airplane yawed and spun approximately 140 degrees to the left before finally coming to rest on the ground.
The investigation
Post-acc examination of the aircraft revealed that it had been previously modified from a nosewheel configuration to a tailwheel configuration. This conversion likely altered the handling characteristics and structural load limits of the landing gear system. The mechanical failure was consistent with the forces generated during the abrupt braking maneuver described by the pilot.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the loss of directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot's decision to use brake input rather than continued rudder or differential throttle correction when drifting occurred. The loss of the left main gear was a direct result of the hard right turn induced by asymmetric braking on a tailwheel aircraft.
Safety message
Pilots operating tailwheel-equipped aircraft must be proficient in crosswind and directional control techniques during landing. Relying solely on brake input to correct drift can lead to structural failure or loss of control, especially if the gear is not designed for such lateral loads.