History of the Flight
On 17 October 2010 at 1015 UTC, a private pilot was returning from his second flight of the day in a Jabiru UL-450, registration G-BZGT. The aircraft was being flown from the left seat, with the unused right headset placed over the front of the right seat back. The approach was to grass Runway 27 with wind from approximately 310° at 10 kt. The pilot adopted a right wing-down attitude to position for final approach.
As the aircraft neared the threshold, the pilot attempted to apply more right aileron but found the control stick had become stiff, preventing further bank adjustment with aileron alone. He applied right rudder to align the nose more into the wind, then left rudder during the flare. The aircraft bounced slightly on touchdown. During the rollout, the left wing struck crops at the side of the runway. The aircraft came to a stop on the left side of the runway. The pilot vacated the aircraft unaided and was uninjured.
Post-Accident Examination
A subsequent examination of the aircraft revealed that the right headset cable had become lodged below the aileron bell crank, restricting its movement. The bell crank and pushrod assembly, which transfers lateral control stick movement to the ailerons, is located between the lower rear of the seats and the forward section of the fuel tank. The cable had interfered with this mechanism, preventing full aileron travel.
Pilot's Actions
The pilot stated that he normally secured both headset cables to the overhead panel using a removable strap and usually checked this as part of his pre-flight inspection. Since the accident, he has permanently attached the headset cabling to the overhead panel. He also advised that he was assessing the possibility of installing a panel to cover the exposed area of the aileron bell crank and pushrods. The manufacturer indicated it does not produce such a panel but is aware that some owners have fitted panels of varying designs. In the UK, information and guidance on modification approval can be obtained from the LAA.