What happened
On 17 October 2010, a Jabiru UL-450, registration G-BZGT, was performing a private flight at a farm strip in Weston Zoyland, Somerset. The pilot was conducting a landing on grass Runway 27 with a 10-knot wind from 310°. As the aircraft approached the threshold, the pilot attempted to increase the right bank angle using the ailerons but found the control stick had become stiff. To compensate, the pilot used right rudder to adjust the aircraft's heading and applied left rudder during the flare.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. During the subsequent landing roll, the left wing made contact with crops located at the edge of the runway. This impact caused damage to the nosewheel bracket and lacerations to the top of the wing. There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft was vacated without assistance.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's control mechanisms and the cockpit environment. They discovered that a headset cable from the unused right seat had become lodged beneath the aileron bell crank and pushrod assembly. This assembly, which transfers stick movement to the ailerons, is located behind the seats in an exposed area.
The investigation established that the pilot had placed the unused right headset cable over the front of the right seat back. The cable had subsequently migrated into the mechanism, causing the observed stiffness in the control stick.