Light Sport Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 22500; Flight Crew Type 25
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Procedure
Landing on Runway XX after a 45 minute local pleasure flight. I did a wheel landing; which is the preferred choice in this aircraft when landing on hard surfaces. It was a beautiful day with smooth air and approximately 5 knot crosswind from the NNE. Although the crosswind was minimal; I employed proper crosswind technique; touched down smoothly on centerline and straight; with the left main first then lowering the right main shortly after and simultaneously reducing power to idle. After touch down I routinely held the tail up for better visibility; to ensure I continue to track straight; and to slow as much as possible before lowering the tail; minimizing any controllability issues. It was a nice landing and routine to this point.After tail touch down; I began neutralizing the right rudder input; moving the left rudder forward toward neutral position. Again routine. While doing so I accidentally caught the left brake pedal with my heel; momentarily applying left brake pressure (this plane has heel brakes.) I was traveling relatively slow at this time. This differential brake application nonetheless caused an immediate swerve to the left while causing the tail to quickly deflect about 30 degrees to the right and unlocking the tailwheel.I immediately realized what happened and reacted as quickly as I could with hard right rudder. It had little effect. I could not stop the momentum. The aircraft continued into a ground loop and departed the runway into the grass.While still on the runway; in the sharp left turn; the plane leaned hard right and the lower right wing tip scraped the runway. Departing the runway the right main tire hit a runway light damaging it. Part of the light then impacted the right horizontal stabilizer leading edge. The plane stopped facing South. This all happened in a few seconds.This plane is a Standard Category antique that incorporates some less than ideal design features; brake pedal position being one of them. Pedals are positioned slightly aft of the rudder pedals and overlap the inboard vertical edge of the rudder pedals by about one inch. To apply brakes you slide your feet slightly up the rudder pedals and move your heals inboard to contact the brake pedals. It is important to keep your feet vertical on the rudder pedals with your heals on the floor to avoid inadvertent contact with the brake pedals when making rudder inputs. Though not aware of it; my left foot was evidently not positioned properly enough to avoid contacting the left brake pedal while moving it forward from aft of the brake pedal. I was not sufficiently cognizant of my foot position while applying right rudder for the crosswind.The aircraft was thoroughly inspected by a specialist. The [specialist] determined the aircraft damage to be very minor and that it did not require a report to the NTSB. However; the damage to my ego; after 53 years of flying without a scratch on an aircraft or a violation of regulations; is not. It is a sobering reminder that a momentary lapse of attention to detail can have very dangerous consequences. This could have easily been a very serious accident. I have learned a valuable lesson. We are and will always be human; no matter how proficient or experienced we become. I am committed to never again allow even the slightest bit of complacency into my piloting.Although I do not believe there were any CFR violations associated with this incident; I thought it would be helpful as well as prudent to submit this report.
Great Lakes 2T pilot reported inadvertently pressing the left brake during rollout; causing a ground loop.