WPR09LA475

The pilot reported that during landing a gust of wind struck the tail and the airplane yawed to the right as it settled on the runway. The pilot stated that he instinctively applied left rudder and toe brake action to stop the yaw; however, the airplane veered off the runway surface. The left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane has a unique braking system in that the brakes are controlled through the throttle lever instead of the traditional toe brake on the rudder pedals. The pilot reported that he had accumulated approximately 1.5 hours in this make and model airplane at the time of the accident. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.

On September 14, 2009, at 0900 Pacific daylight time, a Waco QCF-2, N11241, ground looped after landing on runway 16 at the Bend Municipal Airport (BDN), Bend, Oregon. Woods Brothers Aviation, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained structural damage to the lower left wing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from the Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2), Hood River, Oregon, about 0730. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot was ferrying the airplane for the owners, and Bend was a planned fuel stop. The airplane’s ultimate destination was Prescott, Arizona. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that he had 1.5 hours in this make and model of airplane. The pilot reported that a gust of wind made the tail yaw to the left as the airplane settled on the runway. The pilot instinctively applied left rudder and toe brake to stop the yaw. However, the brake control for this airplane was unique in that it was a function of the throttle handle, not the rudder pedals. The airplane veered off the runway surface, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing contacted the ground, and sustained spar damage. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane at the time of the accident.