Decathlon 8KCAB
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 3100; Flight Crew Type 77
Distraction
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Procedure
Winds were calm and conditions were clear. I was taxiing to the runway at about 5 mph and 1;000 RPM; and applied brakes approaching the movement area hold short line for a 10 minute ferry flight. The hold line is just forward of a bump in the ramp corresponding to track for a fence that used to be located there. The tail unexpectedly came up to the point that a propeller strike occurred. Following the propeller strike; the tail immediately came back down. The only point of impact was the propeller blades and no other damage is noted to the aircraft. There were absolutely no injuries or collateral property damage. This occurred shortly after leaving my desk handling urgent; unrelated matters. I completed all relevant preflight actions; but did not take a moment to slow down and allow my brain to switch gears. In the moments leading up to the propeller strike I believe my brain was processing/filing/deleting my tasks and actions of the previous two hours and was not focused on taxiing. I was surprised by the approaching movement area boundary; and applied the brakes aggressively; which as it turns out was excessive. Possibly related is that the different aircraft that I had flown most recently the day prior required maximum effort braking for a moderate deceleration response.
Decathlon pilot reported a propeller strike after aggressive application of brakes while taxiing.