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Are your rudder pedals safe?

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BlueSkyFlier

Joined: 27 Jan 2011
Posts: 74
Location: UK

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:04 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Fellow KIS owners,



Now that the formalities have been dealt with, I can share with you that I had the misfortune to be involved in a hapless accident on the ground last week. I would like to share my experience with other KIS TR-1 owners; perhaps it can help prevent a similar incident.



A copy of section 16 of the aircraft accident reporting form below conveys the essential information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16	YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE

My right foot slipped off the starboard rudder pedal at crucial moment whilst straightening out the steering nose wheel upon commencing the second stage/leg of a taxiing manoeuvre intended to take me away from the disembarkation area. Despite a tightly strapped full harness, the unexpected forward lurch of right hip and shoulder resulted in an inadvertent knock-on to the throttle, increasing the engine rpm setting substantially beyond my self-imposed limit for taxiing on tarmac. To fill up the mug of misfortune, the uppers of my shoe heel caught on the rear edge of the starboard pedal or brake hinge upon pull-back, effectively locking in a turn to port side whilst also rendering me incapable of braking and/or steering effectively. Three seconds later, with foot still stuck, it was all over with two aircraft substantially damaged and probably destinied to be written off.



Safety factors: (specifically relevant to other KIS TR-1 owners)

1)	Rudder pedals should be aligned squarely with pilotâ€™s hips, not offset at an angle inboard. The vertical angle of rudder and brake pedal should allow full surface contact with pilotâ€™s foot at all times and pedal surfaces should have high friction coefficient.



2)	The release mechanism on a vernier throttle should be operated by pulling action on a bell shaped slider or finger hook at the rear of the throttle knob (as on automatic gear shift levers of many vehicles) so as to automatically enable reduction in power when pilot pulls on the throttle control mechanism from the rear. Activating the release mechanism by depressing a knob from the front allows for inadvertent escalation in power by knock-on at front of the throttle control, whereas it does not facilitate reduction in power when pilot tries to pull/tug it the throttle outwards in an emergency situation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The accident resulted in the destruction of two aircraft, mine and another which was parked.  Fortunately, I did adhere to my rule not to start up or taxi when there are people moving around airside and by Godâ€™s grace I escaped with nothing but a headache and a few scratches.



Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal configuration - I suspect many of you have the same smooth and rather skimpy pedals which my aircraft is fitted with. If it is at all possible that your rudder pedals could enable/allow the same accident to happen â€“ do not postpone getting proper pedals fitted. I did, and it cost me dearly.



Having insured the hull only for the amount I paid for it, it seems that it will be more cost effective for the insurance company to scrap it. So it seems that I may soon be looking for another KIS TR-1 to buy.



These things do happen in the blink of an eye, so please watch your step (on the pedals and everywhere).



Kind regards,

                   Alfred

_________________
_________________________________________

teds532(at)wk.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:43 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

I have the rudder pedals out of a 75 Cessna in my kis cruiser.If you are 

interested in building another Kis I have a Kis TR4 for sale with a new all 

balanced fuel injected lycoming XP360  180 hp engine built by Mattituck.I am 

about 65% finished,I will take any reasonable offer.I am 79 years old and do 

not think that I will be flying any more.You can see some of my work 

building this airplane on the buiders web site.Ted Scott.phone 731 247 5643

---

bakerocb

Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 727
Location: FAIRFAX VA

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:25 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

3/1/2011



Hello Alfred. I was very saddened to read of your accident.



You wrote:



1) "Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal 

configuration"



This is a very crucial issue. There are four things wrong with the orginal 

KIS TR-1 rudder pedal - brake arrangement.



A) The rudder pedals are too small. This means that one can not get 

sufficient leverage when pressing on the top of the pedals to apply the 

brakes -- particularly with the early on crappy Matco braking system.



B) There is no means of telling precisely where your foot is located on the 

pedal and the foot can slide off the side of the pedal very easily.



Both of these problems can be solved with aluminum angle extensions riveted 

onto the original pedals. See the attached picture.



C) The rudder cross bars are too short. This means that in order to place 

one's feet properly upon the rudder pedals one must angle one's legs 

slightly towards the center line of the airplane -- off a bit to the right 

for the pilot.



D) The mechanism for mounting the pedals to the floor board is too weak and 

flexible. Considerable beefing up in this area is needed while constructing 

the floor boards and any bolt pivot supports should be supported on both 

ends, not just cantilevered.



2) "The release mechanism on a vernier throttle......."



I do not recommend vernier controls on a throttle -- just push / pull with a 

friction adjustment.



-----------------------------------------------------



I know that it is small consolation or help to you now Alfred, but the 

subject of brake pedal deficiencies in the KIS TR-1 has been written up 

several times. Here is one of the earliest postings on this subject found in 

the archives from 22 January 1999:



http://www.matronics.com/searching/getmsg_script.cgi?INDEX=87656?KEYS=brake_pedals?LISTNAME=KIS?HITNUMBER=29?SERIAL=08552929623?SHOWBUTTONS=YES



I found it necessary eventually to abandon the Matco wheels, brake system, 

and pedal cylinders and replace them entirely with Grove wheels, brake 

system and pedal cylinders.



OC



================================================

From: "BlueSkyFlier" <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com>

To: <kis-list(at)matronics.com>

Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 10:04 AM

Subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?




Fellow KIS owners,



Now that the formalities have been dealt with, I can share with you that I 

had the misfortune to be involved in a hapless accident on the ground last 

week. I would like to share my experience with other KIS TR-1 owners; 

perhaps it can help prevent a similar incident.



A copy of section 16 of the aircraft accident reporting form below conveys 

the essential information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16 YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE

My right foot slipped off the starboard rudder pedal at crucial moment 

whilst straightening out the steering nose wheel upon commencing the second 

stage/leg of a taxiing manoeuvre intended to take me away from the 

disembarkation area. Despite a tightly strapped full harness, the unexpected 

forward lurch of right hip and shoulder resulted in an inadvertent knock-on 

to the throttle, increasing the engine rpm setting substantially beyond my 

self-imposed limit for taxiing on tarmac. To fill up the mug of misfortune, 

the uppers of my shoe heel caught on the rear edge of the starboard pedal or 

brake hinge upon pull-back, effectively locking in a turn to port side 

whilst also rendering me incapable of braking and/or steering effectively. 

Three seconds later, with foot still stuck, it was all over with two 

aircraft substantially damaged and probably destinied to be written off.



Safety factors: (specifically relevant to other KIS TR-1 owners)

1) Rudder pedals should be aligned squarely with pilot's hips, not offset at 

an angle inboard. The vertical angle of rudder and brake pedal should allow 

full surface contact with pilot's foot at all times and pedal surfaces 

should have high friction coefficient.



2) The release mechanism on a vernier throttle should be operated by pulling 

action on a bell shaped slider or finger hook at the rear of the throttle 

knob (as on automatic gear shift levers of many vehicles) so as to 

automatically enable reduction in power when pilot pulls on the throttle 

control mechanism from the rear. Activating the release mechanism by 

depressing a knob from the front allows for inadvertent escalation in power 

by knock-on at front of the throttle control, whereas it does not facilitate 

reduction in power when pilot tries to pull/tug it the throttle outwards in 

an emergency situation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The accident resulted in the destruction of two aircraft, mine and another 

which was parked.  Fortunately, I did adhere to my rule not to start up or 

taxi when there are people moving around airside and by Godâ?Ts grace I 

escaped with nothing but a headache and a few scratches.



Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal 

configuration - I suspect many of you have the same smooth and rather skimpy 

pedals which my aircraft is fitted with. If it is at all possible that your 

rudder pedals could enable/allow the same accident to happen â?" do not 

postpone getting proper pedals fitted. I did, and it cost me dearly.



Having insured the hull only for the amount I paid for it, it seems that it 

will be more cost effective for the insurance company to scrap it. So it 

seems that I may soon be looking for another KIS TR-1 to buy.



These things do happen in the blink of an eye, so please watch your step (on 

the pedals and everywhere).



Kind regards,

                   Alfred

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sstearns2(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:33 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Ahhh, what terrible news....

  

 I, and a few others, have installed alternate rudder pedals using larger pedals and a generally more robust system.  The vernier throttle was not included or specified in the kit to my knowledge.  

  

 Hopefully you can find a good replacement...

  

 Cheers,

 Scott



--- On Tue, 3/1/11, BlueSkyFlier <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com> wrote:



  	  Quote: 	
		  

From: BlueSkyFlier <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com>

Subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

To: kis-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 7:04 AM



 --> KIS-List message posted by: "BlueSkyFlier" <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com (bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com)>



Fellow KIS owners,



Now that the formalities have been dealt with, I can share with you that I had the misfortune to be involved in a hapless accident on the ground last week. I would like to share my experience with other KIS TR-1 owners; perhaps it can help prevent a similar incident.



A copy of section 16 of the aircraft accident reporting form below conveys the essential information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16    YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE

My right foot slipped off the starboard rudder pedal at crucial moment whilst straightening out the steering nose wheel upon commencing the second stage/leg of a taxiing manoeuvre  intended to take me away from the disembarkation area. Despite a tightly strapped full harness, the unexpected forward lurch of right hip and shoulder resulted in an inadvertent knock-on to the throttle, increasing the engine rpm setting substantially beyond my self-imposed limit for taxiing on tarmac. To fill up the mug of misfortune, the uppers of my shoe heel caught on the rear edge of the starboard pedal or brake hinge upon pull-back, effectively locking in a turn to port side whilst also rendering me incapable of braking and/or steering effectively. Three seconds later, with foot still stuck, it was all over with two aircraft substantially damaged and probably destinied to be written off.



Safety factors: (specifically relevant to other KIS TR-1 owners)

1)    Rudder pedals should be aligned squarely with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s hips, not offset at an angle inboard. The vertical angle of rudder and brake pedal should allow full  surface contact with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s foot at all times and pedal surfaces should have high friction coefficient.



2)    The release mechanism on a vernier throttle should be operated by pulling action on a bell shaped slider or finger hook at the rear of the throttle knob (as on automatic gear shift levers of many vehicles) so as to automatically enable reduction in power when pilot pulls on the throttle control mechanism from the rear. Activating the release mechanism by depressing a knob from the front allows for inadvertent escalation in power by knock-on at front of the throttle control, whereas it does not facilitate reduction in power when pilot tries to pull/tug it the throttle outwards in an emergency situation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The accident resulted in the destruction of two aircraft, mine and another which was parked.  Fortunately, I did adhere to  my rule not to start up or taxi when there are people moving around airside and by GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grace I escaped with nothing but a headache and a few scratches.



Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal configuration - I suspect many of you have the same smooth and rather skimpy pedals which my aircraft is fitted with. If it is at all possible that your rudder pedals could enable/allow the same accident to happen Ã¢â‚¬â€œ do not postpone getting proper pedals fitted. I did, and it cost me dearly.



Having insured the hull only for the amount I paid for it, it seems that it will be more cost effective for the insurance company to scrap it. So it seems that I may soon be looking for another KIS TR-1 to buy.



These things do happen in the blink of an eye, so please watch your step (on the pedals and everywhere).



Kind regards,

                    Alfred



--------

_________________________________________





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=332363#332363

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?KIS-List<         - ;                     -Maww.matronics.com/contribution" target=_blank>http://www.matronics.com/con=================





	


         [quote][b]

teds532(at)wk.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:05 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

THE RUDDER PEDALS SHOULD BE AS SAFE AS THEY WERE IN THE IN THE 76 

CARDINAL.THERE ARE PHOTOS ON THE KIS WEB SITE

---

ftyoder(at)yoderbuilt.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:22 pm Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Sorry to hear that, thanks for the information.



Tim

---

gbrighton(at)skymesh.com.
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Yep ..second that ..very sorry to hear about ur accident too ...glad u are 

ok though ..



Graham

jpetrie(at)sonicfactory.c
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

I'm really sorry to hear of your mishap Alfred.

I know of a Glasair on its way back to you if you're interested 



John





 	  Quote: 	
		   From: BlueSkyFlier <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com>

 Reply-To: <kis-list(at)matronics.com>

 Date: Tue,  1 Mar 2011 07:04:26 -0800

 To: <kis-list(at)matronics.com>

 Subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

 

 

 

 Fellow KIS owners,

 

 Now that the formalities have been dealt with, I can share with you that I had

 the misfortune to be involved in a hapless accident on the ground last week. I

 would like to share my experience with other KIS TR-1 owners; perhaps it can

 help prevent a similar incident.

 

 A copy of section 16 of the aircraft accident reporting form below conveys the

 essential information.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 16 YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE

 My right foot slipped off the starboard rudder pedal at crucial moment whilst

 straightening out the steering nose wheel upon commencing the second stage/leg

 of a taxiing manoeuvre intended to take me away from the disembarkation area.

 Despite a tightly strapped full harness, the unexpected forward lurch of right

 hip and shoulder resulted in an inadvertent knock-on to the throttle,

 increasing the engine rpm setting substantially beyond my self-imposed limit

 for taxiing on tarmac. To fill up the mug of misfortune, the uppers of my shoe

 heel caught on the rear edge of the starboard pedal or brake hinge upon

 pull-back, effectively locking in a turn to port side whilst also rendering me

 incapable of braking and/or steering effectively. Three seconds later, with

 foot still stuck, it was all over with two aircraft substantially damaged and

 probably destinied to be written off.

 

 Safety factors: (specifically relevant to other KIS TR-1 owners)

 1) Rudder pedals should be aligned squarely with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s hips, not offset at

 an angle inboard. The vertical angle of rudder and brake pedal should allow

 full surface contact with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s foot at all times and pedal surfaces

 should have high friction coefficient.

 

 2) The release mechanism on a vernier throttle should be operated by pulling

 action on a bell shaped slider or finger hook at the rear of the throttle knob

 (as on automatic gear shift levers of many vehicles) so as to automatically

 enable reduction in power when pilot pulls on the throttle control mechanism

 from the rear. Activating the release mechanism by depressing a knob from the

 front allows for inadvertent escalation in power by knock-on at front of the

 throttle control, whereas it does not facilitate reduction in power when pilot

 tries to pull/tug it the throttle outwards in an emergency situation.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 The accident resulted in the destruction of two aircraft, mine and another

 which was parked.  Fortunately, I did adhere to my rule not to start up or

 taxi when there are people moving around airside and by GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grace I

 escaped with nothing but a headache and a few scratches.

 

 Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal configuration

 - I suspect many of you have the same smooth and rather skimpy pedals which my

 aircraft is fitted with. If it is at all possible that your rudder pedals

 could enable/allow the same accident to happen Ã¢â‚¬â€œ do not postpone getting

 proper pedals fitted. I did, and it cost me dearly.

 

 Having insured the hull only for the amount I paid for it, it seems that it

 will be more cost effective for the insurance company to scrap it. So it seems

 that I may soon be looking for another KIS TR-1 to buy.

 

 These things do happen in the blink of an eye, so please watch your step (on

 the pedals and everywhere).

 

 Kind regards,

                    Alfred

 

 --------

 _________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=332363#332363

Keith.Miller(at)esa.int
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:50 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Alfred ,

sorry to hear about the accident , what damage was done to the KIS ? .f you

need any advise on repairing it  ,  this forum is the best place to ask  for

help



Going back to your  particular KIS. Clearly   some non- standard

modifications  were made during the build ,  the Cessna steerable Nose gear

being one of them, which probably has not helped  in this particular accident

, as the castoring nose gear would have straightened it self  under power,

assuming  one brake was not locked up  .



The choice of a vernier  or  push pull throttle was a personal choice   made

by the builder , it was not specified in the  build manual., and I suspect

not many of us have gone that route , as I can see little advantage of such a

throttle on a single  engine  and   my inspector in the UK would not have

agreed to one , after  he had a similar experience  flying one fitted to a

Kitfox.



For my KIS  , I did not like the  offset pedals  from the first moment I

mounted them and sat in the plane, it clearly felt wrong  so they were

modified quite easily  by  cutting and welding  the pilots left Pedal and

Co-pilots right pedal  exactly in the opposite direction , this  eliminates

the off set  feeling completely Plus as OC  mentions  adding aluminium

plates to the pedals to make them easier to find and operate



I do not remember  the builder of your KIS  participating to this forum ,

which is a pity since most of this was discussed over the years ,



Keith



                                                                                                                                                

  From:       "BlueSkyFlier" <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com>                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                

  To:         kis-list(at)matronics.com                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                

  Date:       01/03/2011 16:06                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                

  Subject:    Are your rudder pedals safe?                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                

  Sent by:    owner-kis-list-server(at)matronics.com                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                






Fellow KIS owners,



Now that the formalities have been dealt with, I can share with you that I

had the misfortune to be involved in a hapless accident on the ground last

week. I would like to share my experience with other KIS TR-1 owners; perhaps

it can help prevent a similar incident.



A copy of section 16 of the aircraft accident reporting form below conveys

the essential information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------



16           YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE

My right foot slipped off the starboard rudder pedal at crucial moment whilst

straightening out the steering nose wheel upon commencing the second

stage/leg of a taxiing manoeuvre intended to take me away from the

disembarkation area. Despite a tightly strapped full harness, the unexpected

forward lurch of right hip and shoulder resulted in an inadvertent knock-on

to the throttle, increasing the engine rpm setting substantially beyond my

self-imposed limit for taxiing on tarmac. To fill up the mug of misfortune,

the uppers of my shoe heel caught on the rear edge of the starboard pedal or

brake hinge upon pull-back, effectively locking in a turn to port side whilst

also rendering me incapable of braking and/or steering effectively. Three

seconds later, with foot still stuck, it was all over with two aircraft

substantially damaged and probably destinied to be written off.



Safety factors: (specifically relevant to other KIS TR-1 owners)

1)           Rudder pedals should be aligned squarely with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s hips,

not offset at an angle inboard. The vertical angle of rudder and brake pedal

should allow full surface contact with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s foot at all times and pedal

surfaces should have high friction coefficient.



2)           The release mechanism on a vernier throttle should be operated

by pulling action on a bell shaped slider or finger hook at the rear of the

throttle knob (as on automatic gear shift levers of many vehicles) so as to

automatically enable reduction in power when pilot pulls on the throttle

control mechanism from the rear. Activating the release mechanism by

depressing a knob from the front allows for inadvertent escalation in power

by knock-on at front of the throttle control, whereas it does not facilitate

reduction in power when pilot tries to pull/tug it the throttle outwards in

an emergency situation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The accident resulted in the destruction of two aircraft, mine and another

which was parked.  Fortunately, I did adhere to my rule not to start up or

taxi when there are people moving around airside and by GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grace I

escaped with nothing but a headache and a few scratches.



Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal configuration

- I suspect many of you have the same smooth and rather skimpy pedals which

my aircraft is fitted with. If it is at all possible that your rudder pedals

could enable/allow the same accident to happen Ã¢â‚¬â€œ do not postpone getting

proper pedals fitted. I did, and it cost me dearly.



Having insured the hull only for the amount I paid for it, it seems that it

will be more cost effective for the insurance company to scrap it. So it

seems that I may soon be looking for another KIS TR-1 to buy.



These things do happen in the blink of an eye, so please watch your step (on

the pedals and everywhere).



Kind regards,

                   Alfred



--------

_________________________________________





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=332363#332363

John Jackson

Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
Location: Shrewsbury, UK

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:12 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Alfred.  Terrible news.

 I have the vernier throttle on my Kis and quite like it as it allows fine MAP adjustments as i have an electric variable pitch prop.

 I know of a part-built Kis in the UK that may be available for sale. From memory its got a Subaru engine conversion. Failing that, I would consider letting mine go for the right offer.

 John

 -- 

 Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.



Keith.Miller(at)esa.int wrote:[quote] --> KIS-List message posted by: Keith.Miller(at)esa.int  Alfred , sorry to hear about the accident , what damage was done to the KIS ? .f you need any advise on repairing it  ,  this forum is the best place to ask  for help  Going back to your  particular KIS. Clearly   some non- standard modifications  were made during the build ,  the Cessna steerable Nose gear being one of them, which probably has not helped  in this particular accident , as the castoring nose gear would have straightened it self  under power, assuming  one brake was not locked up  .  The choice of a vernier  or  push pull throttle was a personal choice   made by the builder , it was not specified in the  build manual., and I suspect not many of us have gone that route , as I can see little advantage of such a throttle on a single  engine  and   my inspector in the UK would not have agreed to one , after  he had a similar experience  flying one fitted to a Kitfox.  For my KIS  , I did not like the  offset pedals  from the first moment I mounted them and sat in the plane, it clearly felt wrong  so they were modified quite easily  by  cutting and welding  the pilots left Pedal and Co-pilots right pedal  exactly in the opposite direction , this  eliminates the off set  feeling completely Plus as OC  mentions  adding aluminium plates to the pedals to make them easier to find and operate  I do not remember  the builder of your KIS  participating to this forum , which is a pity since most of this was discussed over the years ,  Keith                                                                                                                                                     From:       "BlueSkyFlier" <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           To:         kis-list(at)matronics.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Date:       01/03/2011 16:06                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Subject:    Are your rudder pedals safe?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Sent by:    owner-kis-list-server(at)matronics.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  --> KIS-List message posted by: "BlueSkyFlier" <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com>  Fellow KIS owners,  Now that the formalities have been dealt with, I can share with you that I had the misfortune to be involved in a hapless accident on the ground last week. I would like to share my experience with other KIS TR-1 owners; perhaps it can help prevent a similar incident.  A copy of section 16 of the aircraft accident reporting form below conveys the essential information.16           YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE My right foot slipped off the starboard rudder pedal at crucial moment whilst straightening out the steering nose wheel upon commencing the second stage/leg of a taxiing manoeuvre intended to take me away from the disembarkation area. Despite a tightly strapped full harness, the unexpected forward lurch of right hip and shoulder resulted in an inadvertent knock-on to the throttle, increasing the engine rpm setting substantially beyond my self-imposed limit for taxiing on tarmac. To fill up the mug of misfortune, the uppers of my shoe heel caught on the rear edge of the starboard pedal or brake hinge upon pull-back, effectively locking in a turn to port side whilst also rendering me incapable of braking and/or steering effectively. Three seconds later, with foot still stuck, it was all over with two aircraft substantially damaged and probably destinied to be written off.  Safety factors: (specifically relevant to other KIS TR-1 owners) 1)           Rudder pedals should be aligned squarely with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s hips, not offset at an angle inboard. The vertical angle of rudder and brake pedal should allow full surface contact with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s foot at all times and pedal surfaces should have high friction coefficient.  2)           The release mechanism on a vernier throttle should be operated by pulling action on a bell shaped slider or finger hook at the rear of the throttle knob (as on automatic gear shift levers of many vehicles) so as to automatically enable reduction in power when pilot pulls on the throttle control mechanism from the rear. Activating the release mechanism by depressing a knob from the front allows for inadvertent escalation in power by knock-on at front of the throttle control, whereas it does not facilitate reduction in power when pilot tries to pull/tug it the throttle outwards in an emergency situation.The accident resulted in the destruction of two aircraft, mine and another which was parked.  Fortunately, I did adhere to my rule not to start up or taxi when there are people moving around airside and by GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grace I escaped with nothing but a headache and a few scratches.  Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal configuration - I suspect many of you have the same smooth and rather skimpy pedals which my aircraft is fitted with. If it is at all possible that your rudder pedals could enable/allow the same accident to happen Ã¢â‚¬â€œ do not postpone getting proper pedals fitted. I did, and it cost me dearly.  Having insured the hull only for the amount I paid for it, it seems that it will be more cost effective for the insurance company to scrap it. So it seems that I may soon be looking for another KIS TR-1 to buy.  These things do happen in the blink of an eye, so please watch your step (on the pedals and everywhere).  Kind regards,                    Alfred  --------Read this topic online here:   [quote][b]

richard_trickel(at)yahoo.
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:33 am Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Alfred

 Sorry to here of your mishap.  I hope the plane can be repaired.  Is there a possibility that you could send me pictures of the damage to your plane.  It would take a lot to total it so hope for the best.

 Rich



--- On Wed, 3/2/11, helixaviation(at)googlemail.com <helixaviation(at)btinternet.com> wrote:



  	  Quote: 	
		  

From: helixaviation(at)googlemail.com <helixaviation(at)btinternet.com>

Subject: Re: Are your rudder pedals safe?

To: kis-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 9:08 AM



 Alfred. Terrible news.

I have the vernier throttle on my Kis and quite like it as it allows fine MAP adjustments as i have an electric variable pitch prop.

I know of a part-built Kis in the UK that may be available for sale. From memory its got a Subaru engine conversion. Failing that, I would consider letting mine go for the right offer.

John

-- 

Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.



 Keith.Miller(at)esa.int wrote:  	  Quote: 	
		   --> KIS-List message posted by: Keith.Miller(at)esa.int Alfred , sorry to hear about the accident , what damage was done to the KIS ? .f you need any advise on repairing it , this forum is the best place to ask for help Going back to your particular KIS. Clearly some non- standard modifications were made during the build , the Cessna steerable Nose gear being one of them, which probably has not helped in this particular accident , as the castoring nose gear would have straightened it self under power, assuming one brake was not locked up . The choice of a vernier or push pull throttle was a personal choice made by the builder , it was not specified in the build manual., and I suspect not many of us have gone that route , as I can see little advantage of such a throttle on a single engine and my inspector in the UK would not have agreed to one , after he had a similar experience flying one fitted  to a Kitfox. For my KIS , I did not like the offset pedals from the first moment I mounted them and sat in the plane, it clearly felt wrong so they were modified quite easily by cutting and welding the pilots left Pedal and Co-pilots right pedal exactly in the opposite direction , this eliminates the off set feeling completely Plus as OC mentions adding aluminium plates to the pedals to make them easier to find and operate I do not remember the builder of your KIS participating to this forum , which is a pity since most of this was discussed over the years , Keith From: "BlueSkyFlier" <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com> To: kis-list(at)matronics.com Date: 01/03/2011 16:06 Subject: Are your rudder pedals safe? Sent by: owner-kis-list-server(at)matronics.com --> KIS-List message posted by: "BlueSkyFlier" <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com> Fellow KIS owners, Now that the formalities have been dealt with, I can share with you that I had the misfortune  to be involved in a hapless accident on the ground last week. I would like to share my experience with other KIS TR-1 owners; perhaps it can help prevent a similar incident. A copy of section 16 of the aircraft accident reporting form below conveys the essential information.  16 YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE My right foot slipped off the starboard rudder pedal at crucial moment whilst straightening out the steering nose wheel upon commencing the second stage/leg of a taxiing manoeuvre intended to take me away from the disembarkation area. Despite a tightly strapped full harness, the unexpected forward lurch of right hip and shoulder resulted in an inadvertent knock-on to the throttle, increasing the engine rpm setting substantially beyond my self-imposed limit for taxiing on tarmac. To fill up the mug of misfortune, the uppers of my shoe heel caught on the rear edge of the starboard pedal or brake hinge upon pull-back, effectively locking in a turn to port side whilst also rendering me incapable of braking and/or steering effectively. Three seconds later, with foot still stuck, it was all over with two aircraft substantially damaged and probably destinied to be written off. Safety factors: (specifically relevant to other KIS  TR-1 owners) 1) Rudder pedals should be aligned squarely with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s hips, not offset at an angle inboard. The vertical angle of rudder and brake pedal should allow full surface contact with pilotÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s foot at all times and pedal surfaces should have high friction coefficient. 2) The release mechanism on a vernier throttle should be operated by pulling action on a bell shaped slider or finger hook at the rear of the throttle knob (as on automatic gear shift levers of many vehicles) so as to automatically enable reduction in power when pilot pulls on the throttle control mechanism from the rear. Activating the release mechanism by depressing a knob from the front allows for inadvertent escalation in power by knock-on at front of the throttle control, whereas it does not facilitate reduction in power when pilot tries to pull/tug it the throttle outwards in an emergency situation.  The accident resulted in the destruction of two aircraft, mine and another which was parked. Fortunately, I did adhere to my rule not to start up or taxi when there are people moving around airside and by GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grace I escaped with nothing but a headache and a few scratches. Please take the time to critically re-inspect your rudder pedal configuration - I suspect many of you have the same smooth and rather skimpy pedals which my aircraft is fitted with. If it is at all possible that your rudder pedals could enable/allow the same accident to happen Ã¢â‚¬â€œ do not postpone getting proper pedals fitted. I did, and it cost me dearly. Having insured the hull only for the amount I paid for it, it seems that it will be more cost effective for the insurance company to scrap it. So it seems that I may soon be looking for another KIS TR-1 to buy. These things do happen in the blink of an eye, so please watch your step (on the pedals and everywhere). Kind  regards, Alfred --------  Read this topic online here:  	  Quote: 	
		  



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mantafs(at)earthlink.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Hi Alfred,



Sorry to hear about your accident but glad to hear no one was hurt!



Please add me to the camp that thinks a vernier on the throttle is a bad idea.  Reducing throttle should not require 2 actions.



Some builders have cut off the inward turned outboard rudder pedal tube and rewelded it so that it is outboard pointing.  This allows the outboard rudder pedal to farther outboard so that they can be centered.  This will increase stress on the part so really this whole tube assembly should be rebuilt or at least reinforced.



Mark

--

BlueSkyFlier

Joined: 27 Jan 2011
Posts: 74
Location: UK

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Thank you everyone for commiserations expressed.



I am of course thoroughly gutted and miserable about the whole debacle, but spunk is nonetheless slowly seeping back into the spine. Tomorrow we shall take a serious look at the possibility of repairing the plane.



So very glad to hear that you are on the mend Rich!  You are right, it does take a lot to total her. You should see the other guy â€“ and he was all metal. Suffice to say I now have a greatly increased respect and appreciation for the strength of a composite plane.



Since the engine will need a shock-load inspection anyway Iâ€™ll have it zero-timed in case we decide to repair her. The engine mounting and firewall seemed unperturbed on initial inspection. For the airframe we have two primary challenges (unless others come to light tomorrow).

1)	The LAA (PFA) here may argue that the spar was stressed to some extent â€“ to prove the integrity of the wing is a tricky business at the best of times. Hence Iâ€™m all the more glad to see you back on the forum Rich. Your opinion will carry considerable clout with the LAA. Since the wing tanks are not leaking I am thinking it canâ€™t be too bad, but what do I know? ) 

2)	I shall be in need of a new windscreen because the chewed-up elevator of the Cessna came slicing through mine. (Iâ€™m growing a beard now as that was as close a shave as I want to have for quite some time.) 



The port hatch is complete unhinged â€“ hence my headache â€“ and the instrument panel is dislodged, but both those should  fairly straightforward to fix.   With the collective knowledge and experience of everyone on this forum decisions regarding the best way forward will surely be greatly facilitated. For instance, a few weeks before the accident I spoke to a KIS owner here who described his deregistered KIS as â€˜bentâ€™. Quite likely that parts of his plane could be re-usable and Iâ€™ll follow that up. (He is now building a Glastar.)



John (Jackson), I would very much like to discuss the options you mentioned. Could you please send your contact details via direct email?



And thank you also to Keith (Miller) for the tip about fixing the alignment of the rudder pedals. Given opportunity, I shall implement that together with OCâ€™s pedal mod. 



In case we decide to investigate the repair options further after tomorrowâ€™s inspection I shall open a new thread for that.



Thanks again and best regards to all.



-	Alfred

_________________
_________________________________________

sstearns2(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:40 pm Post subject: Are your rudder pedals safe?

Hi Alfred,

Â 

I'm sure if you provide some pictures you will get lots of advise on how to fix.Â  

Â 

The new windshield should be easy.Â  The company that has the molds is Aircraft Windshield Company, 562-430-8108 in the Los Angeles area.

Â 

What kind of engine do you have?

Â 

Scott



--- On Wed, 3/2/11, BlueSkyFlier <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com> wrote:

From: BlueSkyFlier <bleuskyfly(at)teledynamix.com>

Subject: Re: Are your rudder pedals safe?

To: kis-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 6:32 PM




Thank you everyone for commiserations expressed.



I am of course thoroughly gutted and miserable about the whole debacle, but spunk is nonetheless slowly seeping back into the spine. Tomorrow we shall take a serious look at the possibility of repairing the plane.



So very glad to hear that you are on the mend Rich!Â  You are right, it does take a lot to total her. You should see the other guy Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and he was all metal. Suffice to say I now have a greatly increased respect and appreciation for the strength of a composite plane.



Since the engine will need a shock-load inspection anyway IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll have it zero-timed in case we decide to repair her. The engine mounting and firewall seemed unperturbed on initial inspection. For the airframe we have two primary challenges (unless others come to light tomorrow)

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