NYC97LA169

The pilot made a three point landing on a turf runway, heading south. The wind was from the west at 7 knots. After touchdown, the airplane drifted left. The pilot was unable to correct the left drift and added power for a rejected landing. The airplane drifted off the runway into rough terrain. The pilot closed the throttle and the airplane came to rest off the left side of the runway with the right main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage.

On August 23, 1997, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N7682H, was substantially damaged while landing at a private airstrip near Spencerport, New York. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which had departed from Williamson, New York, at 1340. No flight plan was filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he landed to the south, on the turf runway, in a three point attitude. After touchdown, the airplane started to drift left and power was applied for a go-around. The airplane continued to drift left into rough terrain, at which point the power was reduced to idle. The right main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage. The right wing touched the ground, and the outboard 2 1/2 feet of the right wing was bent up.

The pilot reported the winds were from the west at 7 knots.

In a letter dated September 12, 1997, the pilot reported he believed that the airplane experienced a mechanical malfunction. The letter was forwarded to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Rochester, New York, Flight Standards District Office.

In a reply dated October 30, 1997, an FAA inspector stated, "...The damage to the landing gear resulted from the aircraft accident on August 23, 1997...."