N541JK

On March 22, 2000, about 0830 eastern standard time, a Stearman A75N1, N541JK, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, sustained a ground loop during a landing at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured. The flight originated from the airport about 30 minutes before the accident.

According to the pilot, he was landing on Fort Lauderdale Executive's runway 8 with reported winds from 020 degrees at 6 knots. As he neared his flare point he encountered the "burble" that most local pilots, including himself, know exists when the wind is from a northerly direction. At touchdown the airplane "skipped" slightly and the left wings lifted causing the right lower wingtip to strike the runway. Once he sensed a ground loop was inevitable, he added power to miss the runway edge lights causing an excursion off the left edge of the runway.

According to FAA inspectors, the outboard 5 or 6 feet of the lower right wing was bent upward at a 25-degree angle, and both wing spars were broken. Inspection of the airplane's systems revealed no mechanical defects that would have contributed to the loss of directional control.