LAX02LA128

During landing, the pilot touched down hard in a southwesterly direction on the grass airstrip and collapsed the main landing gear and a wing. The pilot indicated that he had increased engine power to attempt to maintain control, but he was not successful. The wind was from the north at 5 knots, with gusts to 15 knots, and he may have been "behind the airplane" during the landing flare.

On April 6, 2002, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Wilson Avid Magnum, N229JW, made a hard landing in a pasture about 30 miles west of Woodland, California. The experimental, amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot/builder on a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Willows, California, about 1200.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he landed in a southwesterly direction on his 1,300-foot-long grass-covered airstrip. The airplane bounced upon touchdown, and he increased engine power. The pilot further reported that he lost directional control of the airplane when a main landing gear collapsed and a wing broke. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced prior to the mishap. The pilot indicated that at the time the prevailing wind was from the north, at 5 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. He stated that he may have been "behind the airplane" during the landing flare.

In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," he indicated that after the landing flare occurred a wind gust from the north lifted the airplane's right wing. This caused a hard touchdown on the left landing gear, which subsequently collapsed.