What happened
A student pilot was conducting additional training with a flight instructor following an unsuccessful soft field takeoff procedure during a commercial checkride three days prior. According to the instructor, the student had developed a tendency to allow the aircraft to drift to the left once the nose wheel lifted off the ground.
During the flight in question, the student attempted a soft field takeoff. As anticipated, the aircraft began drifting toward the left. The instructor instructed the student to apply significantly more right rudder; however, the student applied excessive right rudder input. This resulted in the aircraft flying in a cross-controlled condition. When the instructor attempted to intervene and regain control, the aircraft entered a stall.
The left wing of the aircraft struck the runway, followed by the right wing. The aircraft then exited the runway onto the grass, coming to rest with the right main landing gear collapsed. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed a bent and broken threaded portion of a rod end for the retract/extension rod.