This April 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: De Havilland DHC2. Injuries: None. Location: Plattsburgh, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot flying was in the left seat. He had logged 1,095 hours, including six in the DHC2. The owner of the airplane, who was also a pilot, was sitting in the right seat. He had logged 2,000 hours, including 500 hours in the DHC2, and 100 hours in the plane as an instructor.
The pilot flying was performing touch-and-go practice in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. He had just performed a short-field landing and takeoff. Upon landing again, he began to apply brakes. The owner felt the tail coming off the ground and applied full back pressure on the control column. As the owner informed the pilot to “get off the brakes,” the pilot flying applied more toe brake pressure, causing the tail to rise and the propeller to strike the runway.
The post-accident examination revealed that the right wing aft attachment point was fractured. Metallurgical examination revealed that the right wing failed in forward bending due to an over-stress event. The most likely source of the over-stress was the propeller strike.
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper application of brakes during the landing rollout.
For more information: NTSB.gov
