According to the pilot, he was flying the tailwheel-equipped Piper J-3L from the rear seat.
During the landing flare to the airport in Astoria, Oregon, with the control stick in an aft position, the control stick’s rubber handgrip slipped off, allowing the stick to move forward.
Before he could recover the stick, the airplane pitched down, and landed hard.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, the forward lower fuselage, and the longerons in the tail section.
Probable cause: The control stick handgrip separation from the control stick, resulting in the airplane pitching forward, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB Identification: GAA18CA108
This January 2018 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.
It’s very sad that for the lack of some adhesive, the grip slides up off the stick….doesn’t one pull and push, not pull upward ?
The correct classic grips come in 3 sizes for $20 , or $58 a pair.
So this minor lack of maintenance caused major damage to a classic 1944 Cub..
This 84 yr old pilot had only 25 hrs in the Cub, but has little relation to the loose grip.