Incident Overview
A pilot attempted a wheel landing in a tailwheel airplane on his private grass airstrip. During touchdown, the airplane bounced, settled back to the runway, and then suddenly nosed forward, coming to rest inverted. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot and Passenger Accounts
The pilot reported that he did not know why the airplane nosed over but suspected that the pilot-rated passenger in the rear seat may have manipulated the flight controls. During a postaccident interview, the rear-seat passenger, also a rated pilot, stated that he remained clear of the rudder pedals and flight controls for the entire flight. He further reported observing the flight controls move abruptly to the full aft position just prior to the nose-over.
Damage Assessment
A post-flight examination revealed substantial damage to the rudder and right wing.