N204X

On December 19, 2004, at approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a Daniels Vans RV-8, N204X, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it encountered a ground loop during the landing roll at Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at approximately 1000.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, the landing touchdown and initial landing roll were uneventful. When the tailwheel settled to the runway, the airplane "departed to the left aggressively." The pilot stated that he attempted to correct with full right rudder; however, it was ineffective. The airplane departed the runway to the right. The right main gear caught in the dirt and separated. The main spar in the right wing was buckled, one propeller blade was cracked, and another propeller blade had separated at midspan. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.