What happened
During an approach to a private airstrip in Wentworth, the pilot was attempting to land on a grass runway oriented 110/290°. The runway surface consisted of closely mown, firm grass that had been recently subjected to rain. The pilot reported that the approach was flown directly into the setting sun, which created significant difficulty in monitoring the aircraft's airspeed indicator.
Upon touchdown on the first level section of the runway, the pilot attempted to use the brakes; however, the braking action was ineffective. As the aircraft continued along the 630-metre landing roll, the main wheels skidded across the wet grass. Realizing the aircraft was approaching a dry stone wall at the end of the runway, the pilot steered toward a hedge to avoid the obstacle. Despite these maneuvers, the left wing struck the stone wall, causing significant damage to the area outboard of the engine. The pilot was able to evacuate the aircraft without injury.
Findings
Investigation of the scene and police photography indicated that the wet grass surface caused the main wheels to skid throughout much of the landing roll. While the pilot noted that the approach speed might have been slightly elevated, the primary issue was the lack of braking effectiveness due to the slippery runway conditions.