Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 26; Flight Crew Total 200; Flight Crew Type 18
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Airport; Human Factors
Event: During landing and braking on turf runway; the aircraft drifted to the right of the runway. Correction for drifting was applied. The aircraft entered an uncut portion of the turf. The tall grass unknowingly concealed areas of untreated and rough ground. Outcome: No one was injured. The front castoring wheel snapped with the aircraft stopping and resting on the front landing strut. A propeller blade struck the ground and bent; and the engine stopped while at idle speed.Possible causes: Drifting possibly caused by hard surface grading (sloping to the right) and reduced traction of gear as the aircraft glided on grass. Castoring wheel snapping off caused by rough ground while soft-field technique applied. Prevention: Post a warning in the chart supplementals. Clear 50 ft obstacles on both ends of runway. Clear the uncut grass to expose dangers. Place warning signs for pilots and/or fence off unusable area to prevent pilots from entering.
GA pilot reported a turf runway excursion that led to damage from rough surface conditions concealed by tall grass.