Cessna 180

Full Narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel, tundra tire-equipped airplane reported that, before takeoff, while holding short of the runway, he set the parking brake and performed the engine runup. He released the parking brake, taxied onto the runway, and performed a takeoff for a flight to a nearby airport.

The pilot reported that he performed the before landing checklist. He performed a short and soft field landing on the damp, grass portion of the gravel/grass runway. He added that, about 2 seconds after touchdown, the tail began to lift. He confirmed that his feet were on the floor without actuating the brakes and maintained full back elevator control. As the airplane transitioned onto the gravel portion of the runway, the airplane quickly nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.

Postaccident examination revealed that the parking brake was partially engaged. The pilot added that "no damage was indicated in the parking brake system," but the system would not return to the "OFF" position without "jostling the cable," which he believed had become "sticky," requiring lubricant.