The pilot reported the approach and landing were normal to an airport in Los Lunas, N.M., and he used right rudder to compensate for a left crosswind.
During the landing roll his left foot slid off the rudder pedal and the RV-4 began to veer to the right.
When he moved his foot back on the rudder pedal, he inadvertently applied the left brake.
He added right rudder to compensate, however the plane traveled off the left side of the runway.
The pilot added power in an attempt to avoid a ditch alongside the runway, but the plane hit the ditch and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot inadvertently applied the left brake during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with terrain.
NTSB Identification: CEN15CA058
This November 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Very sad outcome for this very low time pilot. Is it normal to train conventional gear pilots to remove their feet from the top portion of the pedal? His report of the event (from the accident Docket) describes how he moved his feet all over the place during the roll out. It does not surprise me that he inadvertently mis-position them and over did it when he needed some braking action. It also seems like the dance would create additional delay when prompt application of control pressures or brakes was necessary.
” I have been trained to keep my feet low in the pedals so not to inadvertently apply brake and then shift my feet up to then apply break when needed. While on roll out I was compensating against the wind from left with right rudder. As I went to slide my left foot up I applied to much right rudder and we began to go right when I put my left foot back on the petal and I felt the left wheel brake, I did not intend to apply brake but must have because I felt it grab. I then applied full right rudder to counter the action but with no effect …”
Go-A-Round my friend. If you have power and runway start over.
No mention if he applied left aileron in conjunction with the right rudder to compensate for the left crosswind. This would be a very important part of the equation.