Incident Overview
A pilot planned to remain in the traffic pattern following an annual inspection completed the previous day. During the first landing after touchdown, the airplane began drifting to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder and brake, but once the tailwheel touched down, the airplane quickly veered to the right, departed the runway, and ground looped. After coming to a stop, the pilot shut down the airplane without further incident.
Post-Flight Examination
During a post-flight examination, the pilot reported that the right main tire was one-half to three-quarters underinflated. Further inspection revealed a small metal object resembling a finishing nail embedded in the right main tire. Within one hour of the accident, the tire was completely flat. The pilot stated that both tires and their pressures had been checked and verified according to the airplane maintenance manual prior to the flight.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that, with the exception of the right main tire, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left side of the fuselage.