Accident Details
The pilot reported that he and his passengers had just completed a local sightseeing flight and were returning to the private airport from which they departed. The approach was unremarkable. Upon landing, the main gear wheels touched down onto the turf runway at an indicated speed of 90 mph. As the airplane settled, it encountered a soft spot on the turf runway.
Sequence of Events
The right propeller made contact with the ground. The airplane then slid forward on its nose and ground looped toward the right, incurring substantial damage to the wing and fuselage before coming to a stop 180 degrees from the direction of landing.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the right main gear torque knee link by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the link had fractured in overload, permitting the lower right gear and wheel assembly to twist. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.