Incident Details
A private pilot was landing a tailwheel airplane on a hard-surfaced dry runway. The landing required a correction for a 5-knot right crosswind. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
During the landing roll, the airplane's tailwheel began to shimmy. The pilot responded by applying a slight amount of forward elevator to stop the shimmy. Subsequently, the airplane swerved to the left and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane then ground looped to the left, causing the right main landing gear to collapse. The right wing struck the gravel-covered shoulder of the runway during the event.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane other than the tailwheel shimmy.
Post-Accident Inspection
On May 29, under the supervision of an NTSB investigator-in-charge, the tailwheel was disassembled and inspected. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were discovered.
No other mechanical issues were reported. The investigation did not identify any additional factors or causes beyond the pilot's account of the tailwheel shimmy and subsequent loss of control.