Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Flight Crew Private
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Aircraft; Human Factors
Aircraft is a 2 place open cockpit Experimental tail wheel bi-plane that I had acquired a while back.Was trying to familiarize myself with aircraft by conducting 'high Speed' taxi down runway to simulate both take-off and landing.This was not the first time conducting a 'high speed' taxi; I had noticed on previous runs that the aircraft stability decreased when power was removed and while lowering the tail. Had completed one pass down runway and was in process of a 2nd pass. Had achieved sufficient speed to raise tail with elevator. Was removing power and attempting to lower tail when aircraft began weaving across runway left-right-left. Attempted to regain control and when headed towards grass on left side decided to go straight as opposed to trying to re-align down runway. Apparently struck runway light with right main gear; punctured tire; partially collapsed gear leg and ended up flipping aircraft onto upper wing. An important contributor was my inability to secure a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) safety pilot due to recent FAA regulation interpretations regarding training in experimental aircraft.
Pilot of a tailwheel aircraft reported that as they reduced power during a high speed taxi the aircraft began weaving across the runway and eventually departed the runway; resulting in aircraft damage.