N656K

On July 23, 2002, approximately 1330 Pacific daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Stearman C3-R, N656K, experienced a main gear collapse during the landing roll at Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The aircraft was owned and operated by the commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant. The pilot was not injured, however the aircraft received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, departed Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot, who purchased the aircraft on the day prior to the accident, and who had never flown this make and model biplane before, initiated the solo flight in an attempt to familiarize himself with the aircraft's flight characteristics. He successfully completed two touch-and-go landings, and was on his third attempt when the accident occurred. According to the pilot, he performed a wheel landing (touchdown on the main gear only), and had just lowered the tailwheel to the runway surface when the aircraft began to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and ultimately right brake, but he was unable to correct the swerve/veer in time to keep the aircraft from turning further to the left. As the aircraft continued to turn toward the left side of the runway, the primary tubing structure of both right main gear legs failed, and the aircraft settled to the runway.

In a post-accident telephone conversation, the pilot said that he felt he had not taken sufficient corrective action soon enough, and that by the time he applied full right rudder and applied the brake, the aircraft had veered to a point where it could not be realigned with the runway. There was no indication of any malfunction of the flight controls or of the tailwheel steering system.