What happened
A flight instructor and an airline transport pilot, who was also an FAA inspector, were conducting training maneuvers in a tail-wheel single-engine airplane. The purpose of the flight was for the inspector to perform recurrent training. During the flight, the crew flew to a private airport featuring a turf runway measuring 3,501 feet in length and 2/50 feet in width.
During the first landing approach, the inspector observed large birds on the runway and executed a go-around. Upon the subsequent approach, the birds had returned to the runway area. Following a suggestion from the instructor to land past the birds, the inspector maintained an approach speed of 85 mph, which was approximately 30 mph faster than ideal.
Upon touchdown, the pilot realized the runway sloped downhill and that there was insufficient distance to stop, especially as the left brake was not functioning properly. The pilot aborted the landing by applying full power to climb. During this maneuver, the right wing strut struck a metal T-bar and a wooden fence post that were obscured by bushes. The pilot maintained directional control and returned to the airport to land safely.
The investigation
An examination of the tail-wheel single-engine airplane revealed damage to both the left and right wing struts. Additionally, the wooden spar in the right wing was found to have a split measuring approximately 2 to 3 inches.
Findings
Prior to the flight, the inspector had noted excessive travel in the left brake pedal, though the instructor reported no previous issues with the braking system. The pilot later estimated that at least 2,000 feet of runway would have been required to safely stop the aircraft during the aborted landing.