Incident Details
During landing, the aircraft departed the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over. The pilot stated that the engine lost power when he reduced throttle to idle at touchdown. Applying the brakes produced no pedal pressure and no braking effect.
Contributing Factors
The pilot noted that a slight crosswind and limited tailwheel authority caused the aircraft to begin a right turn as it slowed. The aircraft subsequently exited the runway, struck a ditch, and nosed over.
Examination Findings
Inspectors examined the brake system and found a cracked brake line. This line flexes as the landing gear strut extends and contracts. No brake fluid was present in the master cylinder, and a noticeable amount of fluid was found on the exterior of the line near the crack.
The aircraft airframe had accumulated 1,335 total flight hours. No record was available for the time the brake line had been in service.