Event Summary
A solo airline transport pilot was taxiing a newly purchased airplane for takeoff when the aircraft nosed over after the pilot applied the heel brakes. The incident occurred during the pilot's first flight in the airplane without the weight of another person in the back seat.
Aircraft Information
The airplane had been modified with a nose-mounted battery, double puck brakes, and a boosted brake system. These modifications were noted by the pilot in his account to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge.
Pilot Account
The pilot indicated that he applied the heel brakes during taxi, causing the airplane to nose over. He stated that this was his first flight in the airplane without another person in the back seat, which shifted the center of gravity forward. The pilot felt that the combination of a forward center of gravity and the strong brake system made the airplane prone to nosing over when excessive braking was applied. He added that he was unfamiliar with the newly purchased aircraft and did not compensate for this tendency.