Kingsbury, TX, USA
N685SE
RAF SE5A
The pilot reported that the initial touchdown was harder than expected and that the airplane bounced to the left. He was able to correct back to the right, but the airplane bounced again. When the airplane touched down the third time, it subsequently ground looped and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or deficiencies that led to the accident.
The pilot reported that the accident happened while landing the conventional (tailwheel) gear equipped World War I replica fighter airplane after a test flight. He stated that the flight was uneventful until the initial touchdown which was harder than expected and the airplane bounced to the left. He was able to correct back to the right but the airplane bounced a second time to the left. When the airplane came down the third time it ground looped. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies that led to the accident.
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and his subsequent loss of directional control, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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