Accident Details
According to the pilot of a high-performance, tailwheel-equipped airplane, a normal wheel landing was accomplished on an asphalt runway in light and variable wind conditions. During the landing roll, the tailwheel settled onto the runway and began a "violent shimmy." The airplane subsequently exited the left side of the runway and ground looped to the left. The right wing and elevator struck the ground. The pilot taxied the airplane to parking after the incident.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the elevator. No other damage was reported.
Post-Accident Observations
Shortly after the accident, the pilot retrieved a metal clamp from the airport, which he believed was present on the runway at the time of the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector examined the airplane's tailwheel assembly, including the tire and wheel. The inspection focused on any signs of the clamp becoming caught in the assembly. The inspector reported no evidence of scarring on the wheel, tire, or steering assembly. There were also no signs of tire damage from skidding, and the tailwheel control cables were intact. The inspector stated, "there [was] no visible sign of any sort [that] this tailwheel was operated any way other than what it is designed for, and there is not any physical sign it was ever not following the [input's] from the pilot."
Aircraft Modification
The accident airplane was originally manufactured with tricycle landing gear and had been converted to a tailwheel configuration.