Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident involved a Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, registration G-XCUB, serial number 18-8109036, powered by a Lycoming O-320-A2B piston engine. The aircraft was on a training flight from White Waltham Airfield, Berkshire, on 6 June 2018 at 1205 UTC. On board were two crew members—an instructor and a student—and no passengers. Both pilots were uninjured.
History of the Flight
The instructor and student were conducting circuit training with ‘stop-and-go’ landings. To expedite the process in a busy circuit, the instructor had developed a procedure: after landing, the student would close the throttle, stop the aircraft with brakes, raise flaps, and set carburettor heat to cold. The instructor would then rewind the trim for a zero-flap takeoff configuration. When the aircraft was ready, the instructor would command ‘go’ via intercom, at which point the student would release brakes and open throttle.
Approximately six stop-and-go circuits had been completed successfully. On the next landing, the student brought the aircraft to a stop on the runway. While the instructor was resetting the trim, power was applied. The brakes were still engaged, causing the aircraft to nose over. The propeller struck the grass, stopping the engine. The tail rose and then dropped back onto the runway, breaking the tailwheel spring and damaging the lower part of the rudder. The instructor secured the aircraft, and both pilots evacuated.
Other Information
The instructor, seated in the rear cockpit, has no view of whether the front seat occupant is applying the brakes. After the accident, the instructor learned that the operator’s standard operating procedure for the Super Cub is to not apply brakes on the runway during stop-and-go landings. Additionally, consideration of circuit traffic should be secondary; a downwind call of ‘stop-and-go’ should suffice to warn following traffic.
Damage
The engine was shock-loaded, the tailwheel spring was broken, and the lower part of the rudder was damaged.