What happened
On 15 October 2013, a P & M Aviation QuikR, registration G-CFXZ, was conducting a private flight at East Fortune Airfield in East Lothian. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, with winds recorded from 360° at 6 to 8 knots.
During the landing phase on Runway 07, the aircraft's left main wheel briefly lifted from the surface. The pilot, who believed this lift was caused by a combination of a runway bump and the prevailing crosswind, noted that the aircraft began to veer to the right. In an attempt to maintain the centerline, the pilot attempted to use the steering bar to correct the direction. However, the maneuver was unsuccessful because the passenger had placed their feet against the bar, effectively locking it in place. The aircraft subsequently departed the runway and collided with a fence, causing the aircraft to roll onto its left wing. The impact resulted in extensive damage to the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries to his chest, while the passenger remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation established that prior to departure, the pilot had specifically instructed the passenger not to place their feet on the steering bar. Investigators examined the sequence of events following the touchdown, focusing on the mechanical interaction between the passenger and the flight controls. The investigation confirmed that the pilot's ability to steer the aircraft was physically obstructed by the passenger's bracing action against the steering bar during the critical moments after the left wheel lifted.