Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The commercial pilot was performing a familiarization flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane hit a bump after touching down, which caused the airplane to bounce and then veer to the left. The pilot applied right brake, which was not effective. The airplane subsequently went off the left side of the runway and into a ditch, causing substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 24, 2017, about 1000 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer Corp G-164B airplane, N8494K, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at a private airstrip near Tracy, California. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Haley Flying Service of Tracy as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 familiarization flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local flight departed the private airstrip about 0900. In a written statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that upon returning to the airport he flew around to the east end of the runway, got the [air]plane slowed down, trimmed for landing and made his approach. The pilot stated that after he had cleared the wires and made the runway, he pulled the power back to idle and glided down the runway, flared and made a smooth landing. The pilot opined that after landing he thought that he had hit a bump, which caused the airplane to bounce, followed by the airplane veering to the left. The pilot added that he tried to use right brake to bring the [air]plane back [to the right], but it felt as though the right brake was [not] effective. The airplane subsequently went off the left side of the runway and into a ditch, which resulted in a sudden engine stoppage, the separation of the right main landing gear, and damage to the lower right wing panel. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.