Accident Overview
A sales demonstration flight resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the aircraft after the landing rollout. The flight was conducted with a rear seat pilot, an employee of the airplane manufacturer, and a front seat pilot who was a prospective buyer.
Pilot Qualifications
The rear seat pilot held a private pilot certificate and had accumulated 1,000 total flight hours in the accident airplane make and model. The front seat pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, but his most recent flight review had expired at the time of the accident flight. He reported having no experience in the airplane make and model.
Sequence of Events
According to the rear seat pilot, during the final landing attempt with the front seat pilot on the controls, the airplane touched down normally and began to veer to the left. The front seat pilot corrected to the right, and the rear seat pilot attempted to recover the airplane with left rudder and right aileron, but the airplane ground looped to the right. The front seat pilot stated that the rear seat pilot interfered with the rudder controls during the rollout, impeding his attempts to maintain directional control after the airplane veered to the right.
Communication and Policies
The rear seat pilot noted that at the time of the accident, the company did not have a formal policy to learn a prospective buyer's qualifications prior to a sales flight. Instead, they required a conversation with the prospective buyer about their recent flight history based on "trust and judgment." He remarked that for the accident flight, there could have been better communication, as he did not formally ascertain the front seat occupant's level of proficiency and experience. Both occupants were wearing face masks, which interfered with their communication.
The front seat pilot reported that they never discussed his flight experience, qualifications, or proficiency in the airplane prior to the accident flight. He was also never advised that he would assume the role of pilot-in-command.
Mechanical Condition
Neither pilot reported any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Damage
The left wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.