DC-3/Dakota/Skytrain
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 12000; Flight Crew Type 300
Time Pressure
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
After normal approach and landing; Tower advised us to take A-7 taxiway off of the runway. I had applied slightly heavier than normal braking in order to accommodate the Tower request. The aircraft had slowed to a safe taxi speed; and I unlocked the tail-wheel to begin the right turn to exit the runway. The turn became exaggerated and when I applied braking to correct the turn; it was ineffective. I then stopped the plane straight ahead 90 degrees to the runway short of the A-7 Taxiway. We did not depart the runway; but did come to a complete stop. Tower told the landing traffic behind to go around and asked if we needed assistance. I replied that no assistance was needed. At this point; the right engine; being idle with boost pump running; quit due to too rich of a fuel mixture for the idle condition. When the engine quit; it back-fired and the Tower miss-took this for an engine fire and rolled the fire trucks. I responded that no fire was present and that no assistance was needed. With the left engine; I completed a 270 degree turn and then exited the runway on A-7 taxiway. The right engine was restarted; I taxied to a ramp location; exited the aircraft looked for anything abnormal; discussed the event with the Airport Operations folks. I then re-boarded the aircraft and departed uneventfully for two more landings at two more local airports. In retrospect; I allowed the following traffic and the Tower requests to rush my exiting the runway. In the future; it is much wiser to inform the Tower that we are unable to comply with the requested exit and continue to the next available taxiway. Especially in a 71 year old airplane.
A DC-3A pilot reported a ground loop on landing as he attempted to expedite clearing the runway for landing traffic.