Accident Overview
A tailwheel airplane equipped with tundra tires and heel brakes nosed over during the landing roll at an off-airport site. The pilot, who was receiving instruction, reported that this was his first flight in an aircraft with heel brakes. He held a tailwheel endorsement but was not proficient in operating tailwheel airplanes. During taxi, he had difficulty reaching the heel brake pedals and had to remove his feet from the rudder pedals to apply the brakes.
Pilot Experience and Aircraft Handling
The pilot stated that during the landing roll the airplane veered slightly to the left, and he did not apply the brakes. The subsequent nose-over caused substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left lift strut.
Mechanical Condition
The flight instructor reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.