What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was practicing flying from the rt seat to improve his feel in case he instructs. The pax was a previously active pilot and his purpose was to apply brakes in which are only on the left side. The first t/o and ldg was normal. On the 2nd ldg the pilot states that everything was normal and the ldg seemed assured. However, at 2 to 6 ft alt the nose suddenly pitched down and struck the rwy. The a/c then flipped on its back. No injuries, no fire. The pilot/owner is concerned that a servo tab actuator or link broke and caused the sudden nose down maneuver and the accident. At this time it is my opinion the part was broken when the tail slammed into the rwy. The NTSB had requsted the part be shipped to them for analysis. They have given the owner permission to take the part off and ship it. I will amend the -23 if pilot error is determined not the cause because of a mechanical problem.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS PRACTICING FLYING FROM THE RT SEAT TO IMPROVE HIS FEEL IN CASE HE INSTRUCTS. THE PAX WAS A PREVIOUSLY ACTIVE PILOT AND HIS PURPOSE WAS TO APPLY BRAKES IN WHICH ARE ONLY ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE FIRST T/O AND LDG WAS NORMAL. ON THE 2ND LDG THE PILOT STATES THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AND THE LDG SEEMED ASSURED. HOWEVER, AT 2 TO 6 FT ALT THE NOSE SUDDENLY PITCHED DOWN AND STRUCK THE RWY. THE A/C THEN FLIPPED ON ITS BACK. NO INJURIES, NO FIRE. THE PILOT/OWNER IS CONCERNED THAT A SERVO TAB ACTUATOR OR LINK BROKE AND CAUSED THE SUDDEN NOSE DOWN MANEUVER AND THE ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME IT IS MY OPINION THE PART WAS BROKEN WHEN THE TAIL SLAMMED INTO THE RWY. THE NTSB HAD REQUSTED THE PART BE SHIPPED TO THEM FOR ANALYSIS. THEY HAVE GIVEN THE OWNER PERMISSION TO TAKE THE PART OFF AND SHIP IT. I WILL AMEND THE -23 IF PILOT ERROR IS DETERMINED NOT THE CAUSE BECAUSE OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.