Accident Details
During a landing on runway 14, the pilot of an Aviat A-1B experienced a sequence of events that resulted in a ground loop. The pilot reported that during the flare and touchdown, the airplane bounced once before settling gently on the main wheels. Immediately after, the airplane began to drift slightly to the right. To correct this drift, the pilot applied left aileron and left rudder input, aiming to align the aircraft's longitudinal axis with the runway centerline.
At the moment the tail wheel touched down, it abruptly swung to the right, causing the aircraft to become nearly perpendicular to the runway. Subsequently, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The pilot and the passenger exited the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. The pilot also noted that the winds were light and variable at the time of the accident.
Examination Findings
An examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that during the initial bounce, the pilot had struck the tail wheel, damaging it. When the damaged tail wheel made contact with the runway a second time, it caused the aircraft to ground loop.
Pilot Information
The pilot had accumulated a total flight time of 210.7 hours, with 32.1 hours in the same make and model. In the 90 days preceding the accident, the pilot logged 1 hour in make and model, and 1 hour in the 30 days prior.