What happened
While conducting takeoff and landing practice, the pilot of a tailwheel-converted aircraft experienced a gear failure during a bounced landing. The pilot reported that the initial landing of the session was successful. However, during the second landing attempt, a loud popping sound was heard upon touchdown. This caused the aircraft to become airborne again with the right wing lifting slightly. Although the pilot attempted to correct the attitude using aileron, the left main gear collapsed as the aircraft touched down for a second time.
As the aircraft came to a stop, the left wing and the propeller made contact with the runway. The aircraft was not reported to have sustained fatalities.
The investigation
An inspection of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear strut had been compressed, causing the gear to fold inward underneath the fuselage. Further examination showed that the axle had been pushed through the wheel and the wheel bearings were broken. Records indicated the aircraft had been converted to a tailwheel configuration in 1982 and had flown 84 hours since that conversion.