American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC N636DB accident near Carefree, Arizona

Probable cause

<p style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;line-height:108%;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;"><br /><span style="font-family:'Roboto';background-color:#ffffff;">The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with a known mechanical defect, and the improper application of the main wheel brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.</span></p>

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane at a backcountry airstrip, and while taxiing on rough terrain, the tailwheel spring failed and the tailwheel assembly separated from the airplane. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited to inspect and retrieve the tailwheel assembly. He then decided to depart, using engine power to lift the tail off the ground for the take-off roll, and return to his home airport where he planned to land and hold the airplane’s tail off the ground as long as possible. The pilot completed a successful wheel landing, but as the airplane slowed during the landing roll it tipped forward and nosed over, coming to rest inverted on the dirt runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage frame, wings, vertical stabilizer, ailerons, elevators, rudder, and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that he may have inadvertently applied more main-wheel braking pressure than necessary while trying to keep the tail off the ground, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. Other than the previously damaged tailwheel assembly, the pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR26LA114 for the full record.