Narrative:

The plane just came out of restoration. I received about 6 hours of dual in it; mostly on grass field and got signed off biannual/tailwheel endorsement. The plane now has a full swivel (maule) tailwheel. While I was instructed in the operation of the tailwheel (I have only operated non-swivel tailwheels) and practiced at the grass field in hampton I was not familiar enough with full swivel tailwheel operation on hard surface runways with slight crosswind. I landed 3 point and used full rudder to control the plane -- unknowingly unlocking the tailwheel. At approximately 25 mph the plane swerved off the runway into the grass. I was not quick enough to use differential braking. The plane came to a stop approximately 30 ft from the side of the runway. Rather than taxi back on the active I taxied approximately 35 ft to the nearest taxiway. No damage was incurred. I feel my action to let the plane turn into the wind and settle to a stop in the grass was correct. I did not; at the time; understand why the rudder/tailwheel did not respond to my rudder pedal inputs. I have since received ground instruction and demonstration on the operation of full swivel tailwheels. In addition I will practice ground taxi in various situations to learn how the tailwheel reacts and; should I unlock the tailwheel with full rudder deflection how to 1) recognize early; 2) be prepared to implement differential braking.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER J3 CUB PLT EXPERIENCES RWY EXCURSION INTO ADJACENT GRASS AREA AFTER ABRUPT RUDDER INPUT.

Narrative: THE PLANE JUST CAME OUT OF RESTORATION. I RECEIVED ABOUT 6 HRS OF DUAL IN IT; MOSTLY ON GRASS FIELD AND GOT SIGNED OFF BIANNUAL/TAILWHEEL ENDORSEMENT. THE PLANE NOW HAS A FULL SWIVEL (MAULE) TAILWHEEL. WHILE I WAS INSTRUCTED IN THE OP OF THE TAILWHEEL (I HAVE ONLY OPERATED NON-SWIVEL TAILWHEELS) AND PRACTICED AT THE GRASS FIELD IN HAMPTON I WAS NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH FULL SWIVEL TAILWHEEL OP ON HARD SURFACE RWYS WITH SLIGHT XWIND. I LANDED 3 POINT AND USED FULL RUDDER TO CTL THE PLANE -- UNKNOWINGLY UNLOCKING THE TAILWHEEL. AT APPROX 25 MPH THE PLANE SWERVED OFF THE RWY INTO THE GRASS. I WAS NOT QUICK ENOUGH TO USE DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING. THE PLANE CAME TO A STOP APPROX 30 FT FROM THE SIDE OF THE RWY. RATHER THAN TAXI BACK ON THE ACTIVE I TAXIED APPROX 35 FT TO THE NEAREST TXWY. NO DAMAGE WAS INCURRED. I FEEL MY ACTION TO LET THE PLANE TURN INTO THE WIND AND SETTLE TO A STOP IN THE GRASS WAS CORRECT. I DID NOT; AT THE TIME; UNDERSTAND WHY THE RUDDER/TAILWHEEL DID NOT RESPOND TO MY RUDDER PEDAL INPUTS. I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED GND INSTRUCTION AND DEMO ON THE OP OF FULL SWIVEL TAILWHEELS. IN ADDITION I WILL PRACTICE GND TAXI IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS TO LEARN HOW THE TAILWHEEL REACTS AND; SHOULD I UNLOCK THE TAILWHEEL WITH FULL RUDDER DEFLECTION HOW TO 1) RECOGNIZE EARLY; 2) BE PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT DIFFERENTIAL BRAKING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.