Accident Overview
A private pilot was operating a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane bounced after a hard landing. Following the bounce, he applied remedial control inputs. When the airplane touched down again, directional control was lost and the airplane ground-looped. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident that would have contributed to the accident.
Sequence of Events
The accident sequence began with a hard landing. Upon initial touchdown, the tailwheel airplane bounced back into the air. The pilot then applied inputs intended to correct the situation. However, the subsequent touchdown resulted in a loss of directional control, leading to a ground loop. A ground loop is a rotation of the airplane around its vertical axis while on the ground. The pilot reported that his remedial control inputs were not sufficient to maintain control upon the second touchdown.
Damage
The fuselage of the airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident. The pilot did not report any other damage. The accident damage was limited to the airframe structure. The extent of the damage required the fuselage to be repaired or replaced.