ERA19TA216

The pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane when, after touchdown, the airplane veered left. He added power to go around, but the airplane veered left again, started to climb, then stalled and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported that the right main landing gear brake torque plate was improperly installed.

On June 29, 2019, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N75077, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Pickens County Airport (LQK), Pickens, South Carolina. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated he departed runway 23, flew once around the traffic pattern and returned to land. When he lowered the tailwheel after landing, the airplane veered left. He added power to go around; however, the airplane veered left again, started to climb, then stalled. Prior to the accident the airplane was modified in accordance with a supplemental type certificate for bush tires, and an annual inspection was performed on the airplane 2 weeks later. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane's left outboard wing was crushed upward, the nose was damaged, and the left main landing gear had separated. The inspector found no evidence that the brakes had “locked” during the landing. Further examination revealed the torque plate on the right main landing gear brake assembly was improperly installed.