What happened
On June 23, 2016, a Beech Aircraft 65-A90-1 was performing a takeoff from runway 09L at Hannover Airport. The flight crew, consisting of the pilot and a camera system operator, had taxied from the GA1 apron via several taxiways. During the takeoff roll, as the engines reached takeoff power, the aircraft began to veer significantly to the left.
In an attempt to maintain the centerline, the pilot applied heavy right rudder pressure. This intense force caused the right rudder pedal to break and the associated linkage to bend. Consequently, the pilot lost directional control, and the aircraft exited the runway at approximately 30 kt, coming to a stop in the grass near taxiway K. There were no injuries resulting from the incident, though the aircraft sustained light damage.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the flight controls and the pilot's preflight procedures. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance logs, which showed no recent defects, and reviewed the cockpit's gust-lock system. The investigation also looked into the pilot's recent training, noting that while experienced in the Beech series 200, he had only approximately 95 hours of experience on the series 90 model and had recently completed difference training.
Findings
Investigators determined that the primary cause of the excursion was the failure to remove the rudder pedal gust lock prior to takeoff. The pilot had successfully identified and removed the gust locks for the control column and engine levers but failed to recognize the rudder pedal pin as a removable lock. This oversight was due to several contributing factors:
- The rudder pedal gust lock pin lacked sufficient red identification coloring.
- The security chain that normally connects the control column to the pedals was missing, making the pin appear to be a permanent part of the pedal assembly.
- The preflight checklist required the removal of "Control Locks," but did not specify the number of locks or their specific locations.
- The pilot's recent difference training had not provided comprehensive instruction regarding the specific gust-lock configurations of the series 90 model.
Additionally, the pilot had not performed the "Flight Controls – Checked/Free Movement" item from the before-taxi checklist, which would have revealed the restricted movement of the pedals.