Incident Overview
A pilot flying a tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a landing gear collapse during what was his first solo landing in the type. According to a written statement from the pilot, he had accumulated a total of 13 hours of flight time in the tailwheel airplane.
Sequence of Events
The pilot executed a three-point landing. As the airplane decelerated, the nose began to veer to the left. In response, the pilot applied right rudder to correct the heading. This action caused the airplane to start rolling to the right. Subsequently, the right landing gear collapsed, and the right wing came into contact with the runway surface.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a post-accident examination of the airplane. The inspection did not reveal any mechanical anomalies or pre-existing failures. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron, consistent with the wing contacting the runway.
Findings
The pilot's report and the subsequent examination indicate the accident sequence was initiated during the landing roll. The exact cause of the loss of directional control was not identified by the investigation; no mechanical issues were found that could have contributed to the event.