RV-8
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 250; Flight Crew Type 100
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Weather; Aircraft; Human Factors
Ground looped aircraft on roll out. The wind was 17 gusting to 24 out of 210. I selected Runway 24. On roll out; as speed decreased and the rudder became less effective; a gust weathervaned the aircraft. I'd applied full right rudder but there wasn't enough. As the airplane veered off the runway I applied both brakes to slow down. As aircraft departed the runway into the grass the tail swung around 180 degrees.There was a taxiway light broken that I assume I struck; but there was no impact mark on the aircraft. Examination of the aircraft indicated no damage. Subsequent 8 hours of flying time showed no abnormalities.
The pilot of a tail wheeled aircraft lost control on landing due to gusty winds; resulting in a runway excursion. The aircraft may have struck a taxiway light; however no damage to aircraft was identified.