Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to engage the tailwheel lock before landing which resulted in the loss of control and ground loop.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that while performing a three-point landing on runway 18, during the roll out the airplane veered left, exited the runway to the left, and ground looped in the counter-clockwise direction. During the ground loop, the right wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest upright on the main landing gear. The right aileron sustained substantial damage. After the accident sequence the pilot noted that the tailwheel lock was not fully in the locked position. The pilot was able to taxi the airplane to parking without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.