Here are a bunch of accidents all linked to the yaw tendanciis of the Tecnam Sierra:
17 Sep 06 G-TESI Immediately after lifting off from an undulating grass airstrip, the aircraft rolled to the left and landed heavily some 25 m to the left of the runway.
11 Jun 07 G-RLMW During takeoff on a grass runway, the aircraft crested a rise in the runway, became briefly airborne, settled onto the ground and then bounced back into the air. It then veered to the left and struck a fence.
30 Sep 07 G-NESE During the takeoff roll, the aircraft went over a bump in the grass runway and the steerable nosewheel lifted off the ground. The aircraft then veered off the runway to the left and was substantially damaged when it went into a ditch.
19 Apr 08 N532MA The student pilot reported that while landing, the airplane bounced twice and he elected to abort the landing and applied full engine power. The flight instructor reported that as full engine power was restored insufficient rudder was applied and the airplane drifted left of the runway. Taking over the airplane's controls, the flight instructor initiated a left bank in an attempt to avoid hitting the airport windsock. While banking, the left wing tip impacted the ground followed by the airplane's fuselage.
4 May 08 EI-LFC The surface wind was estimated at 200 degrees at 10-14 kts, resulting in a crosswind condition. As the aircraft approached take-off speed it swung to the left and departed the paved surface of the runway. The Pilot applied full right rudder to correct but, as the aircraft came back on the paved surface, the left main landing gear detached damaging the tailplane as it travelled rearwards. The Pilot abandoned the take-off, the aircraft decelerated rapidly and came to rest in the grass on the left side of the runway.
15 Oct 09 G-CDTE During takeoff from the grass airfield, the aircraft swung left despite the application of full right rudder. It left the runway, crossed a road and collided with two parked vehicles.
28 Jan 12 N14HV Upon landing, the aircraft, a Tecnam P2002 Sierra, N14HV, exited the runway sustaining minor damage. The sole pilot on board the aircraft was not injured.
26 Oct 13 F-GXEC. The pilot lost control of the aircraft during take off at Andernos Airfield - LFCD and crashed into a dig. The pilot suffered minor injuries.
I note a significant trend with this aircraft. Don't know if it is an issue with insufficient rudder or fin area, but it sure felt like it when I flew it last year. Maybe you're right, it is something else, but it doesn't feel right - certainly not for a PPL student. I know of quite a few 6 footers who refuse to fly it because they can't see out of it properly as well.
LJ
