Champion Citabria 7ECA
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8; Flight Crew Total 195; Flight Crew Type 35
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Procedure
While practicing takeoffs and landings during second solo hour after checkout in a Citabria 7ECA; I braked too hard and tipped the nose over onto the prop. As was my custom after other tailwheel checkouts; I was practicing takeoffs and landings with all the different feels and inputs solo compared to instructors in the back seat. My custom was to gradually build out my personal limit by doing takeoffs and landings in varied conditions. After the second or third landing today; I was on short final and was instructed by tower to make a full stop. The tower did not add 'if able' so I sensed some urgency. Winds were about 10 knots with a light variable cross wind component. I landed with no drift and in control in a three point and began braking. The braking was effective and even; and I continued to apply it without trying to lock the brakes; to attempt to turn at the next taxiway. As the aircraft slowed it suddenly tipped onto its nose but without cartwheeling or wings contacting the ground. I had focused to much on making the taxiway; and not enough on the risk of tipping over. I realize that as the pilot in command; I needed to focus on safely rolling out even if it means missing a taxiway and even if I had to go around. Also; a lesson learned is how fast the nose pitched down as I concentrated on slowing down to make the turn. I was also comfortable with mechanical heel brakes from another tailwheel airplane. This one had hydraulic heel brakes which I now fully appreciate are far more effective. So this is another lesson learned when flying different airplanes. After the prop strike; I shut everything down; including fuel valve to reduce any chance of fire. I was uninjured; but the plane was on its nose straddling the centerline with a damaged prop and no other apparent damage. After a few minutes; I helped push it back to the hangar. Final lesson; I had worried so much about avoiding ground loops and prop strikes doing wheel landings in tailwheels that I lost track of the need to also not overbrake. I learned a lot but at the cost of a prop strike; and hope this helps someone else avoid such an incident.
I was on approach to landing and there was a citabria in the pattern for the parallel runway. The pilot of the citabria was told and hounded by the tower to make a full stop landing. The pilot was then told to exit at taxiway delta. The distraction from the tower caused the pilot to brake hard; rush and put the plane on its nose. Prop strike. I believe the distraction from the tower distracted the pilot and rushed the pilot of the citabria to try and comply that caused the accident.I am an instructor and have seen this before. Tailwheel landings take full concentration for the pilot to do them safely. The winds were all over the place that morning. This was a factor also and the pilot needed the time to land the plane safely.
Citabria pilot reported putting the aircraft on its nose while attempting to make the exit assigned by the Tower. A C170 pilot in the pattern added his comments on the incident.