Incident Details
A pilot was practicing touch and go landings when, during the sixth landing, he heard a pop and felt the airplane begin to settle on its right side. The airplane subsequently exited the right side of the runway, contacted terrain, and came to rest on its nose.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, no anomalies were noted prior to the accident. The event occurred without any prior indication of a malfunction.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the right rear landing gear hinge point attachment had fractured. Additionally, the firewall was found to be wrinkled. The specific reason for the hinge point attachment fracture could not be determined.
Conclusion
The accident sequence involved a failure of the landing gear structure during landing. The underlying cause of the fracture remains unidentified.