Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's excessive brake application, leading to a noseover during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delay in lowering the tail after landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane and that the landing roll was smooth as the tail came down. He indicated that there was then no rudder control and that the airplane veered left. He brought the control stick back and applied right brake. The propeller struck the runway and the airplane nosed over. The vertical tail and rudder sustained substantial damage during the noseover. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight and stated that he probably should have dropped the tail earlier in the landing roll to avoid the loss of rudder control.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was landing and that the landing roll out was smooth as the tail came down. He indicated that then there was no rudder control and the airplane veered left. He brought the control stick back and applied right brake. The propeller struck the runway and the airplane nosed over. The vertical tail and rudder sustained substantial damage during the noseover. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight, and stated that he probably should have dropped the tail earlier in the landing roll out to avoid the loss of rudder control.