tecnam - ballarat 31.3.15 - partial loss of control

[johnm]

tecnam - ballarat 31.3.15

 

.............. this was in the RAA 2015 incident list - can I ask ? - does anyone know what caused this event (twice) ........ fault identified ?

 

quote: ' Completing a check flight after inspection. Aircraft was on downwind RWY18 85 kts, straight and level. The aircraft rolled and yawed to the right without warning. PIC applied full left rudder and full power and the aircraft shuddered and recovered. Recovery was not instant but did return to level flight. Rudder required a lot of pressure to move much more than normal. Lost about 200 feet. Completed circuit and made a full stop landing without further incident. The Aircraft had suffered a similar incident on Sunday 29/3/2015. . Aircraft Grounded until fault identified and repaired.'

 

 

[ayavner]

wow, that could very easily have been a full loss of control!

 

 

[SDQDI]

Certainly sounds interesting. Do they have an adjustable trim on the rudder? What is the hinge system for the rudder? Could something have been left in during inspection that could jam the cable?(assuming they have a cable rudder)

 

 

[HeliPilot70]

Looks like there is a history of rudder jamming issues... https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2007L02571

 

 

[johnm]

thanks Heli

 

 

[johnm]

.............. be intriguing to know if the Ballarat Tecnam was a serial number 001 to 013 per post #4

 

.............. Ground station to Ballarat ............ do you read me ?

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

This is a bit freaky if there was no control input immediately before loss of control. Bit like the rudder hardover on those B737s.