Incident Details
The flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was for the private pilot and aircraft owner to receive instruction for a tailwheel endorsement. After practicing several successful takeoffs and landings, the instructor had the private pilot set up for a full stop wheel landing to runway 16. The wind was from a 45-degree angle at six knots, creating a crosswind.
Sequence of Events
While in ground effect, the private pilot reduced the throttle too rapidly, which increased the sink rate. The aircraft then touched down firmly on the main landing gear. The private pilot arrested the resulting bounce with forward pressure before the aircraft lifted off, and applied some power to maintain directional control. The aircraft then began to deviate from the runway centerline. The private pilot lowered the tail, which made the aircraft unstable. The flight instructor intervened and stabilized the aircraft. The private pilot then indicated that he could handle the situation, and the instructor returned control to him.
The flight instructor stated that he may have returned control too quickly, as the situation then degraded into a large excursion from the runway centerline, and the aircraft diverted from its normal track. The flight instructor was unable to regain directional control, and the aircraft ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing and elevator contacted the ground and sustained structural damage.