Accident Details
A pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings in a taildragger airplane. During a previous two-point landing, the pilot reported a sensation "like someone was pushing and releasing the brakes." The sensation was not severe, so the pilot continued to takeoff speed and rotated. The subsequent landing was a three-point landing, and the pilot stated that touchdown and rollout initially were fine.
When the pilot applied heel brakes, the left wheel folded and began flapping, causing the airplane to yaw left. The pilot corrected with right rudder. The pilot noted insufficient airflow to hold the tail down, and the nose and propeller struck the ground. The airplane skidded approximately 10 feet on the nose before nosing over on the runway.
Postaccident Inspection
A postaccident inspection by a mechanic revealed that the left main tire was flat. The mechanic stated that the tire looked normal and showed no protrusions. The valve stem was torn from the tube, with no indications of dry-rotting in the rubber or misalignment of the tube. The mechanic reported a small hole in the tube, most likely caused by pinching during the rollout of the aircraft with the tube deflated.