Accident Summary
A private pilot with 2,800 hours of flight experience lost control of a tailwheel-equipped single-engine airplane while landing to the northwest on a 1,900-foot-long private grass airstrip. The pilot reported that upon touchdown, the right main landing gear brake locked and would not release. The airplane subsequently turned to the right, and the left main landing gear collapsed.
Investigation Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident examined the airplane and observed that the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly was intact. The brake pads were described as being "in a released state, and not binding to the brake disk." This indicated that at the time of inspection, the brake was not locked.
Mechanic Discovery
During subsequent maintenance repairs to the airplane, an airframe and powerplant mechanic discovered that when he pushed on the main toe-brake, the parking brake mechanism would lock the right main landing gear brake. The mechanic reported that this was a common problem for this make and model airplane.
Wind Conditions
The pilot reported that at the time of the mishap, the winds were from 130 degrees at 10 knots. At the nearest weather reporting facility, located 5 miles north of the accident site, winds were recorded from 040 degrees at 8 knots.