Aircraft: Cessna 140A. Injuries: None. Location: Kent, Wash. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The CFI and his student were practicing landings in a tailwheel airplane in preparation for the student’s first solo.
On the fourth landing, the student inadvertently applied brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and tail.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
NTSB Identification: WPR11CA408
This August 2011 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.
Glad the both came out O.K. That said heals on the floor in the case of toe brakes or out from heal brakes. There is NO reason to apply brakes on a light tailwheel airplane during landing. This includes shortfield until one is very proficient in the aircraft and then it will seldom be necessary even on the short strips because of landing at the slowest possible speed. Brakes on light planes are designed to help with ground handling not to stop the aircraft on landing as they are on heavy aircraft. Hold the stick/yoke back don’t touch the brakes,hold the stick back, and let it roll to a stop.
I disagree. Use of brakes is an important skill to learn for short field performance. Some places are only accessible from one direction, which might, or might not involve a tail wind, and braking to a stop. That is an extreme example, but braking, following landing is useful in other situations as well. Use of brakes on take-off should also be taught and learned.
“This includes short-field until one is very proficient in the aircraft and then it will seldom be necessary.” I did not say NEVER, remember this was a pre-solo student. A one-way strip is not the type of field that this student was at, as an A&P I have repaired many aircraft that were damaged because the pilots jumped on the brakes while rolling on a 4000 foot strip when the airplane needed 1000 ft. This accident, again, was a student, learn basic control and then push to maximum capabilities.
Toe brakes are great once you master their location. I learned in a Champ w/heel brakes that were hard to manage, so I just didn’t worry about using them until the tail was firmly planted. The instructor might need a bigger newspaper to wrap the student over the head with.