Pilot error involving rudder bar confusion leads to microlight excursion

Casualties unknown • Lamb Holm Airfield, Orkney Islands, GB

A Zenair CH 701UL veered off the runway at Lamb Holm Airfield after the pilot inadvertently applied the wrong rudder bar during landing.

What happened

On 9 May 2018, a Zenair CH 701UL, registration G-EOIN, was conducting a private flight at Lamb Holm Airfield in the Orkney Islands. The pilot, an experienced aviator with over 11,000 flying hours, was acting as pilot in command for the first time in this specific aircraft. Following a successful touch-and-go, the pilot attempted a second landing.

During the landing roll, the aircraft began to veer toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot applied what he believed to be the right rudder bar. However, the aircraft responded by turning sharply to the left, causing it to depart the runway and strike a fence. The impact caused the aircraft to tip forward, resulting in damage to the propeller, the nose landing gear, and a floor panel. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.

The investigation

The investigation established that the pilot's right foot had inadvertently slipped onto the left rudder bar, which is positioned for a right-seat occupant. Because the cockpit space is restricted and the pilot had long legs, his foot was resting on the incorrect control. Unlike standard single-engine piston aircraft that use rudder pedals, this microlight uses rudder bars, and the pilot had not previously identified that the two bars were in such close proximity.

Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's training requirements. It was found that the pilot had not undergone differences training for the microlight class, as he and his instructor believed his existing single-engine piston privileges were sufficient for three-axis microlights. The investigation revealed a regulatory ambiguity regarding the necessity of such training for pilots transitioning from SEP aircraft to microlights.

Findings

  • The pilot accidentally applied the left rudder bar instead of the right due to his foot slipping.
  • The proximity of the left and right rudder bars in the Zenair CH 701UL contributed to the error.
  • The pilot had not completed required differences training for the microlight class.
  • The pilot's physical positioning in the restricted cockpit space may have contributed to the foot slip.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilot inadvertently applying the left rudder bar instead of the right, leading to a runway excursion; this was compounded by a lack of differences training and unfamiliarity with the specific control layout of the aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2018-05-09 Zenair CH 701UL accident near Lamb Holm Airfield, Orkney Islands, GB?

A Zenair CH 701UL veered off the runway at Lamb Holm Airfield after the pilot inadvertently applied the wrong rudder bar during landing.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2018-05-09 involved a Zenair CH 701UL, registration G-EOIN , at Lamb Holm Airfield, Orkney Islands, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilot inadvertently applying the left rudder bar instead of the right, leading to a runway excursion; this was compounded by a lack of differences training and unfamiliarity with the specific control layout of the aircraft.

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