N189T

On August 14, 2000, at 1708 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-18-105, N189T, was substantially damaged during landing roll-out at Lynchburg Airport, Lynchburg, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot said:

"Was doing touch and go's at Lynchburg Regional Airport (KLYH), was clear VFR day, around 5 pm local time. Was landing on Runway 3. Winds were 360 degrees about 3MPH. Had made 5 previous landings, all normal. On sixth one, I touched down lightly just past the threshold stripes and dead on centerline in wheel landing configuration for a least 100 yards and slowed to about 30 MPH when plane started turning to the right. I applied full left rudder with no results. I still had plenty of asphalt ahead, so I decided to apply full throttle to straighten and fly it off, but throttle only tightened the turn right. So I pulled power and rode out ground loop. Was slow and gentle. Wing touched and plane pivoted on wing and went off runway backwards. Stopping on soft edge berm."

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed and on-scene examination on August 15, 2000. In a written statement, the inspector said:

"Left main wheel axle bent to the right from apparent side load. Aircraft made uncommanded turn. Due to sharpness of turn, the left wing tip touched the ground. Left wing rear spar was bent up."

The inspector also reported that the area surrounding the axle did not appear rusted or corroded.

Runway 3 was a 5,799-foot long, 150-foot wide asphalt runway.

The winds at LYH were reported from 310 degrees at 4 knots.

The pilot reported 352 total flight hours, of which 98 hours were make and model.