What happened
On Saturday, October 20, 2001, at 15:25, a Robin DR 400-120, registration F-GJZZ, was performing a solo circuit at AD Muret. The pilot, a trainee with 23 total flight hours, had just completed a one-hour navigation flight accompanied by an instructor. After receiving takeoff clearance for runway 30, the pilot was informed by air traffic control that the wind was 220 degrees at 10 knots.
As the aircraft reached a speed of 100 km/h, the pilot initiated the rotation. During this maneuver, the left wheel briefly lifted, but the aircraft immediately drifted to the left. The aircraft exited the paved runway, crossed the grass runway area, and traveled into a seeded field. The aircraft's path described an arc before coming to a stop with the left wing caught against a shrub. The pilot reported hearing a noise that appeared to originate from the left wheel during the rotation.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's behavior during rotation and the pilot's physical positioning in the cockpit. The air traffic controller observed that at the start of the rotation, the aircraft tilted to the right before deviating left from the runway centerline.
Investigators examined the aircraft's braking system and found no mechanical anomalies. The pilot recalled that his left foot became wedged between the side panel and the rudder pedal during the maneuver. While the pilot attempted to apply right rudder to correct the leftward deviation, he could not recall his specific lateral movements with the control stick.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the wings and nose gear.
- The primary cause of the runway excursion was the improper positioning of the pilot's foot on the rudder pedal, which became trapped against the cockpit side wall.