Safety Accident Reports Getting crossed up Steve Ayres summarises and comments on accident reports from around the world and looks at a dry suit for those over-water adventures…
Left-hand from right…?
Belt failure
Ikarus C42 FB100 Bravo
Aviad Zigolo MG12
G-OSPH
G-CIUF
Chilbolton Airfield, Stockbridge,
Near West Heath Common Quarry,
Hampshire
West Sussex
Injuries: None
Injuries: None
The pilot normally flew this aircraft from the left seat. However, as he was flying with an experienced passenger, who had also been his instructor, he ‘elected to fly’ as the aircraft commander from the right seat. This meant his hands were transposed on the control column and throttle lever from their usual position. During the landing, at approximately 5ft to 10ft agl, the pilot felt the aircraft descending more rapidly than he had intended. To correct the rate of descent, he instinctively pushed the control column forward rather than the throttle, which resulted in a hard landing during which the landing gear collapsed. The Ikarus C42 primary flight control consists of a control column mounted on a centre console between the pilot seats. There are two throttle levers pivoted on the cockpit floor directly in front of the seats between the pilot’s legs. Comment Having spent much of my flying switching seats and swapping hands on controls I was initially surprised by the severity of the outcome from a relatively benign situation. That is, until I saw a photo of the C42 cockpit layout! It shows a central control stick and control column for a throttle between the legs of each crew member. Surely something to confuse the best of us in the heat of the moment…
The pilot took off from a farm airstrip near Rogate, West Sussex, for a local flight and reported that the initial climb performance and engine rpm were normal. On reaching 900ft agl the engine speed fluctuated, and the pilot heard a flapping sound as the propeller drive belt started to fail. The pilot reduced the throttle setting and the drive belt snapped. He then closed the throttle and the engine stopped abruptly. The pilot set up an approach to a grass field but as he descended the glide deteriorated and the aircraft undershot into a very narrow field, coming to rest against a willow bush. The pilot stated that drive belts of improved quality were now available from the aircraft kit importer. Comment The life of the original drive belt was only 100 hours, which suggests there wasn’t much of a safety margin built in. Let’s hope the new design of the belt is more robust and lasts more than the 44 hours of the failed one. Small satisfaction for the pilot though as he also ended up with a seized engine, probably resulting from an overspeed as the belt snapped.
Ultimate turn Vans RV-8A N800KE Langley, Washington Injuries: One fatal, one serious
The pilot and passenger departed Snohomish County Airport, Paine
Field, Everett, Washington, on a flight to Langley, Washington. A witness reported that the aeroplane was turning from the base to final leg of the airport traffic pattern when its nose dropped and it rolled to the left. The aeroplane subsequently entered a steep dive and spun into the trees. The passenger reported that, during the turn from base to final, the aeroplane’s left wing was down, and it ‘fluttered’ like it stalled. It then descended like a ‘lawn dart’. The aeroplane was equipped with a Garmin VIRB onboard camera, which was mounted just aft of the front seat behind the pilot’s right shoulder and captured the accident flight. Review of the footage revealed that the pilot initiated a left turn from the downwind to base leg of the airport traffic pattern at an altitude of 540ft msl and a ground speed about 77kt. About six seconds later, the sound of the engine’s power sharply decreased, and the pilot’s hand movement was consistent with a power reduction. The aeroplane’s elevator control surfaces were consistent with the pilot commanding positive pitch to the aeroplane. Comment We shall never know exactly what turned this aeroplane into a ‘lawn dart’. The front seat pilot in command had more than 1,000 hours flight time and the back seater, some 200 hours, and yet the actions of the pilot seem irrational. The wind was calm and visibility greater than 10km. The downwind to base leg turn was, however, flown at 270ft above airfield datum; not a good place to be if you get distracted or mishandle the aircraft.
Hand strike Air Creation Tanarg
“His aeroplane had started to move, and he chased after it…” 48 | FLYER | July 2021
N837TB Buckeye, Arizona Injuries: One serious
The accident pilot had been performing touch-and-go landings with several trike pilots when he decided to land and talk to another trike pilot on the ground. After landing and setting the parking
