Light Sport Aircraft
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8; Flight Crew Total 3500; Flight Crew Type 300
Other / Unknown
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors
Made approach to full stall landing in tailwheel airplane on Runway 2. Requested wind-check; wind reported as 360 at 6 knots. Landed on centerline on numbers in approximate 3-point attitude; but did not have tailwheel firmly on the ground. Airplane began to drift right; corrected with left rudder. Left rudder/tailwheel not effective; airplane continued to drift right. Airplane rolled slowly off right edge of runway between runway lights onto grass; came to halt about 50 feet to the right of the right edge of runway and parallel with runway. Tower asked if I needed assistance. I replied that I did not. I asked for and was given clearance back onto the runway. Turned left onto taxiway Charlie; taxied to T-hangar with Ground control. Examined tailwheel mechanism; found it to be working normally.2 hours later went back and made 3 landings in same airplane. Wind now reported 030-050 at 6-9. Made 3 full-stall landings; making sure to hold stick full aft. Airplane tracked center of runway perfectly.
Pilot reported drifting off the right side of the runway in a tailwheel aircraft after a normal three point touchdown with a very slight left crosswind. Postflight inspection of the tailwheel revealed no anomalies. Three landings were made with a stronger left crosswind with no control difficulties noted.