PA-12 Super Cruiser pilot lost control on landing resulting in a runway excursion and ground loop with minor damage to the aircraft.
Synopsis
PA-12 Super Cruiser pilot lost control on landing resulting in a runway excursion and ground loop with minor damage to the aircraft.
Narrative
PA-12 Super Cruiser. While making a landing ground looped and ended up in the grass facing 180 degrees to the landing runway on the upwind side. On final; I notice the wind was blowing moderately from left to right. With those conditions in mind; it was my intention to make a wheel landing to a full stop. The aircraft landed on the left main (upwind wheel) and I maintained directional stability with opposite rudder. I did notice while on that wheel it was squealing like a tire being spun up on pavement. I kept in opposite rudder and aileron until the right main touch down I then applied forward pressure on the elevator to keep the tailwheel in the air as the plane tracked down the runway. As the speed bled off; I allowed the tailwheel to touchdown gently. It was at that point the aircraft veered off to the left and with full right rudder and brakes I could not keep the aircraft on centerline. As the airplane left the runway; I tried to ease off the rudder to allow the aircraft to weather vain into the wind straighten out and roll onto the open grass area to the left of the runway; however the aircraft became uncontrollable and ground looped to the left. The aircraft ended up across the taxiway in the grass with the right gear folded up under the fuselage. The right wing struck the ground and broke the bow on the end of the wing along with one or two ribs. The propeller never touched the ground and I shut the engine down using the mags first and mixture second to hasten engine shutdown. I secured the aircraft and awaited assistance. No property damage resulted and no one was injured.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.