Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in the left main landing gear tire bursting and the tailwheel assembly failing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot on the controls in the left seat, the right seat pilot was familiarizing him with the airplane. The airplane bounced during landing on the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered left, and he overcorrected to the right, followed by an overcorrection to the left. He applied heavy braking, and the airplane turned 120° to the right. The side load on the left main landing gear tire resulted in it bursting. The wheel rim then dug into the runway, the airplane bounced, the tailwheel assembly failed, and the tail spring steel strut then dug into the soft surface. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and the empennage.
Source record
Factual narrative
Both pilot's onboard the airplane reported that the purpose of the flight was to familiarize the pilot in the left seat with the airplane, of which he was appropriately rated yet had never flown. According to the pilot on the controls in the left seat, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced during landing on the asphalt runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left and he overcorrected to the right, followed by an overcorrection to the left. He applied heavy braking and the airplane turned 120° to the right and exited the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear tire deflated, and the wheel dug into the dirt surface. The airplane bounced, and the tailwheel-assembly failed and dug into the soft surface. The airplane sustained damage to the aft fuselage and the empennage.