Accident Details
A tailwheel-equipped biplane experienced a ground loop during the landing roll, resulting in substantial damage to the bottom right wing. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the tailwheel became 'stuck' in an expansion joint that runs down the centerline of the runway. When the tailwheel came unstuck, the biplane 'swung wildly to the left', the bottom right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway after turning 180° to the left.
Video Evidence
A video of the accident, taken by a camera mounted on the accident biplane and posted on social media, revealed that the biplane touched down on the runway to the left of the centerline. During the landing roll, after crossing the taxiway A2 intersection, the biplane began drifting to the right. The tailwheel is seen crossing the centerline expansion joint at about a 30° angle to the joint, and rolls over the joint without hesitation. The tail is then seen swinging to the right at an increasing rate. The biplane ground looped to the left, and the bottom right wing sustained substantial damage.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The pilot's account indicated that the tailwheel became stuck in the expansion joint, while the video evidence suggests the tailwheel crossed the joint without apparent obstruction.
Damage
The bottom right wing sustained substantial damage as a result of the ground loop.