LAX01LA266

During the second landing the airplane veered to the right of the runway and ground looped. The purpose of the flight was to practice landings, and fly around the area. On the second landing the airplane landed hard due to a high flare. The airplane departed to the right side of the runway. Left rudder input was attempted, but did not return the airplane back to runway centerline. The pilot added some power at the edge of the runway, which put the airplane near an embankment adjacent to the taxiway. The pilot applied full power to straighten the airplane and avoid the embankment. The airplane started to turn to the left, which put the airplane next to another embankment. He attempted to avoid the embankment; however, the landing gear caught as the airplane went over the embankment. The airplane bounced over and onto the runway. The pilot stated that there were no discrepancies noted with the airplane.

On July 31, 2001, at 0710 hours mountain standard time, a Maule M-7-235C, N17FR, ground looped after landing at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff, Arizona. The airplane was owned and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed at 0635, and no flight plan had been filed.

The Safety Board investigator interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that he was going to go out and practice three-point landings, touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, and then maybe do some flying around the area. There were no discrepancies noted with the first landing. On the second landing, touchdown was normal, and then the airplane veered off the runway and ground looped.

The pilot stated that the weather was overcast with some haze, but that the winds were calm. He further indicated that there were no mechanical difficulties noted with the airplane.

In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he indicated that on the second landing he flared "a little bit high." After touchdown the airplane bounced, which he stated, wasn't serious and attempted to "fix it." The airplane started an immediate turn to the right, and he wasn't able to apply enough left rudder to return to runway centerline, so he added power at the edge of the runway. He was near an embankment off to the side of runway 21's taxiway. He applied full power, hoping to turn the airplane before it collided with the embankment. The airplane started to turn to the left and encountered another embankment. He attempted to jump the airplane over the embankment; however, the landing gear caught part of the embankment and the airplane bounced over and onto the runway. He shutoff the airplane and he and his passenger exited the airplane without further incident.