What happened
On 12 June 2018, an Ikarus C42 FB80, registration G-HEVR, was conducting a training flight at Lydd Airport, Kent. The flight was a dual instruction session traveling from Deanland to Lydd, involving a student pilot and a flying instructor. During the approach to Runway 03, which was facing a near direct headwind, the student performed two successful landings before being cleared to fly solo circuits.
While performing the third solo circuit, the aircraft experienced a sharp swing to the left and began to tip upward. The student had been practicing power-off approaches and full-flap landings to simulate engine failure scenarios. During the landing sequence, as the student attempted to retract the flaps from the full setting to the takeoff setting, the aircraft's direction was lost. The resulting excursion caused damage to the nose leg, propeller, and wingtip. There were no injuries to the crew.
The investigation
The investigation examined the cockpit ergonomics and the sequence of pilot actions. It was noted that the Ikarus C42 FB80 features a centrally-mounted stick, which functions as a right-hand sidestick for the pilot in the left seat. The flap control is also positioned centrally, just behind the top of the windscreen. Operating the flaps requires the pilot to reach across the cockpit with one hand while maintaining control of the stick with the other, utilizing a latching mechanism that requires precise movement.
Findings
- The student pilot experienced a period of confusion or disorientation while attempting to manipulate the flap controls.
- The pilot applied the incorrect rudder pedal during the transition of the flaps from full to takeoff setting.
- The physical requirement to reach across the cockpit to operate the central flap lever while managing the sidestick contributed to the error.