What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot was on a solo cross country flight for the purpose of fulfilling requirements for private pilot certification.
The pilot stated that when the tailwheel touched the ground, during ground roll, the aircraft turned 20 degrees. The pilot attempted to regain control but was unable before the aircraft entered a ditch, parallel to the runway, and the propeller struck a berm. One blade of the propeller, was bent at a 45 degrees angle aft.
The tailwheel assembly was inspected and found contaminated and not freely rotating.
The tailwheel assembly was replaced.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FULFILLING REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATION.
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE TAILWHEEL TOUCHED THE GROUND, DURING GROUND ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 20 DEGREES. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL BUT WAS UNABLE BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DITCH, PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY, AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK A BERM. ONE BLADE OF THE PROPELLER, WAS BENT AT A 45 DEGREES ANGLE AFT.
THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND CONTAMINATED AND NOT FREELY ROTATING.
THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.