Accident Details
A pilot reported an accident during an off-field landing on a dry lake bed. The airplane was equipped with a tail wheel. The pilot stated that he "rounded out too high, dropped hard," resulting in two bounces. As the airplane began to slow, it veered to the left despite the pilot's control inputs. The right main landing gear subsequently collapsed, causing structural damage to the right wing.
Pilot Account
The pilot indicated that his perception of his vertical position may have been affected by the featureless, white landing surface. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or its flight control systems prior to the accident.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination by the pilot revealed that the tail wheel was separated due to a "broken" spring, though it remained attached to the fuselage by the tail wheel steering links. The pilot believed that the damage to the tail wheel spring resulted from the hard landing and subsequent bounces.