19971213043409I

NARRATIVE: INCIDENT DATE-DECEMBER 13, 1997. PLACE OF OCCURRENCE-SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (SBP) PILOT-ACOSTA, BRIAN M., STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE NUMBER EE1742691 ISSUED 09/10/97 AIRCRAFT-CESSNA 172-N738VY-SER.NO. 17270283 INCIDENT SYNOPSIS-AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT FROM THE RUNWAY UPON TOUCHDOWN AND STOPPED AT THE TERMINAL RAMP AREA. ON JANUARY 27, 1998, I REVIEWED THE INCIDENT PACKAGE THAT WAS PREPARED BY MR. JOSEPH ABRAMSKI, AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR-AIRWORTHINESS. MR. ABRAMSKI (FAA IIC) WANTED OPERATIONS TO REVIEW THE PILOT ACTIONS REGARDING THE EVENT. 1. ON JANUARY 28, 1998, I CALLED MR. RON ZEHMAN, THE AIRCRAFT OWNER. HE STATED THERE WAS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE AIRCRAFT THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO LOSE CONTROL AFTER LANDING. HE SAID MR. GARRETT VANDERZIEL, THE CHIEF INSTRUCTOR OF THE CAL COAST FLYING CLUB FLEW WITH THE STUDENT PILOT AND FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. 2. ON JANUARY 28, 1998, I CALLED MR. VANDERZIEL, HE STATED MR. BRIAN ACOSTA, THE STUDENT PILOT, WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE SEAT UP TOO HIGH AND HE WAS PRESSING DOWN ON THE TOP OF THE RUDDER PEDALS, AND THEREFORE LANDING WITH THE BRAKE(S) ON. AFTER THE FLIGHT, MR. VANDERZIEL STATED THAT HE REVIEWED THE DETAILS OF NECESSARY CORRECTION WITH THE STUDENT. MR. VANDERZIEL ALSO DISCUSSED HIS FINDINGS WITH MR. WARREN CRAIN, THE STUDENT PILOT'S INSTRUCTOR. MR. VANDERZIEL STATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO INSIST THE STUDENT GET "RE-SOLOED" WITH FLIGHT TRAINING EMPHASIS ON LANDINGS. 3. ON FEBRUARY 3, 1998, MR. WARREN CRAIN RETURNED MY CALL AND AFFIRMED HIS DISCUSSION WITH MR. VANDERZIEL AND MR. ACOSTA. HE SAID, AS OF THIS DATE, HE HAD NOT YET FLOWN WITH THE STUDENT, BUT HAD DISCUSSED A PLAN OF TRAINING WITH THE STUDENT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ 4. AS OF FEBRUARY 3, 1998, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT MR. BRIAN ACOSTA TO EXPLAIN THE CONTEND OF MY CONVERSATION WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR, HOWEVER I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH A TELEPHONE CALL WHEN MR. ACOSTA RETURNS HOME. ALAN P. CHRISTIANSON, AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR-OPERATIONS, SAN JOSE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE. INCIDENT SYNOPSIS-AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT FROM THE RUNWAY UPON TOUCHDOWN ACROSS TAXIWAYS ECHO AND ALPHA. 1. LETTER RECEIVED THIS OFFICE ON JANUARY 2, 1998, AUTHORED BY SUBJECT PILOT, DESCRIBES ALL EVENTS RELATED TO HIS FLIGHT OF THAT DAY. THE ESSENCE THEREOF, INDICATES THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE PRESET RUDDER TRIM DURING FLIGHT. NO AIRCRAFT OR FACILITY DAMAGES RESULTED. NO HUMAN INJURIES OR FATALITIES RESULTED. (SEE ATTACHED LETTER FROM B. ACOSTA AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AIRPORTS INCIDENT REPORT NUMBER 741). 2. THIS WAS THE SECOND SUCH EVENT FOR THE SAME PILOT IN THE SAME AIRCRAFT. THE FIRST EVENT OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 1, 1997. NO AIRCRAFT OR FACILITY DAMAGES RESULTED. NO HUMAN INJURIES OR FATALITIES RESULTED. (SEE ATTACHED SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AIRPORTS INCIDENT REPORT NUMBER 740.) 3. TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH AIRCRAFT OWNER RON ZEHMAN DATED DECEMBER 16, 1997, CONFIRMED THAT MECHANICAL FAILURE OF AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS OR COMPONENTS WAS NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO EITHER INCIDENT. 4. THIS INCIDENT FORWARDED TO SJC FSDO OPERATIONS UNIT FOR REVIEW AND DISPOSITION. JOSEPH A. ABRAMSKI, AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR AIRWORTHINESS, SJC FSDO