The private pilot reported that, shortly after the application of takeoff power, the Cessna 172 pulled strongly to the left while on the runway at the airport in Indian Trail, N.C.
He attempted to correct with right aileron and rudder, however, shortly after rotation, the airplane climbed at an excessive pitch angle and continued to the left.
He lowered the nose to regain some airspeed, but the airplane hit the ground before coming to rest against the trees bordering the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.
The pilot told investigators that he recently had knee replacement surgery and was unable to bend his left knee, which caused an inadvertent application of left rudder that could not be overcome during the takeoff and initial climb. This resulted in a loss of airplane control and subsequent impact.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff and initial climb. Contributing was the pilot’s physical limitation which caused an inadvertent application of left rudder.
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This September 2021 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.
Something smells really bad about this report. “Shortly after applying takeoff power…” Then just remove takeoff power! Yikes, why not abort the takeoff when you can’t control where you are pointing on the runway? Duh? Stalling on takeoff too, last time I checked, rotation pitch isn’t set by control of the rudder. There is more to this story that has nothing to do with his knee. Brain stiffness seems to me to be a more likely root cause.
…….and we wonder why insurance rates keep rising, GEESH!
Forget about how he got into the airplane: How did he taxi out & perform a “Before Takeoff” checklist”?
Quotes from the pilot’s Narrative History letter & Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation:
“Pilot stated that he simply got behind the airplane; ‘It was pilot error.’ He recently had his knee replaced and that was partly to blame.”
“I can only surmise that I had accidentally set the seat too far forward and could not release the rudder/brake pressure. As i had passed two flight reviews and two recent instructor rental check rides in the subject aircraft as the same airport, my skills had been reasonable proven.”
Maybe your “skills”…but not your judgement.
This would almost be comical, except another Cessna 172 has been retired permanently.
Having had a total left knee replacement 18 months back and seeing that this pilot claimed he could not straighten his left knee, I have questions:
How did he get himself aboard this 172? I could just get myself and barely bending leg into the passenger side of a roomy pickup truck with lots of leg room one month post surgery but no way I was driving. It took about 6 weeks to get cleared for that and that was after extensive physical therapy and achieving a leg bend of 115 degrees minimum plus being finished with pain meds.
How long since his surgery did this happen? Was he finished with the pain meds or did they affect his decision to fly? Was he in PT? Sounds like a terribly impulsive decision was made to fly at that point in his recovery.
Better to be on the ground wishing you were up there, than up there wishing you were down there.
I had a broken tibula plateau and it took 6 months to get the knee working again. Wasn’t able to move without thinking about it for 10 months. I can’t believe that anyone would think that they were fit to fly with a knee they couldn’t move. Just can’t believe. . .
Can’t bend left knee. How’d he get in the airplane?
Recent major surgery (removal of knee, replacement with artificial knee) should be a no-brainer. Where was “IMSAFE” in this pilot’s review of fitness to fly solo? “I” is for illness And/OR a recent major surgery. Could also be “M” was for medicine – i.e. pain killers. Was the pilot’s physician consulted for advice on fitness to fly (solo)?
To continue your point:
From the NTSB records we have: “Medical Certification: BasicMed Unknown”
So was this pilot even legal to fly under Basic Med?
Would one fly with a broken arm in a sling? How would you operate the throttle and yoke at the same time for take off or landing (just 2 important points in flying).
Would one fly with their leg in a cast because of a break? I doubt it. How about a sprained ankle? The pain can be excruciating in trying to put pressure against a peddle (break, clutch or rudder).
So with knee surgery, one has to get through therapy far enough to be able to easily bend their knee to walk up and down stairs or across rough terrain. This is why people have to do a certain amount of Physical Therapy. Yes knee surgery is pretty routine today, but you still have to do the therapy to get past the pain.
Driving a car with an automatic transmission, you can get bye with this (leg in cast or fresh knee surgery) because you can operate the brakes or throttle with one foot. But you can’t if driving a manual transmission.
So I seriously doubt that this guy discussed this with the surgeon or his personal doctor.