Event Summary
A pilot attempted to land an airplane on an off-airport gravel bar. The right crosswind was reported at 15 to 20 knots. During the landing approach, the airplane developed a high rate of descent. The pilot increased engine power to slow the descent. The airplane then landed hard, bounced, and the pilot aborted the landing.
Landing Attempt and Detection of Damage
After aborting the landing, the pilot observed that the right main wheel was misaligned by approximately 30 degrees. He decided to return to the departure airport, which had a gravel airstrip, for an emergency landing.
Emergency Landing and Collapse
During the emergency landing at the gravel airstrip, the right main landing gear strut collapsed. The collapse resulted in damage to the right-front lift-strut. No further details about injuries or other damage were provided.
The pilot had reported a right crosswind of 15 to 20 knots during the initial landing attempt. The hard landing and subsequent bounce preceded the detected wheel misalignment.