An improper traffic pattern entry was made by a PC12 test pilot returning from a test flight on whic...

Narrative:

A flight supporting return to service of a PC12 was conducted. Flight was conducted with the dual purpose of validating airplane operation after a two-year hiatus (fcf) and defining the requirement for stall characteristics flight-testing with the upgraded PT6A-67P engine installed and operating at rated power (14 crash fire rescue equipment 23.201/.203). Coming off the fifth stall I noted that the rudder trim had been driven to the right hand stop. After stabilizing in level flight at 160 KIAS we attempted; without success; to center the trim manually as the auto trim system was not responding. We returned to base at 120 KIAS with both feet on the left pedal. Normal traffic is right traffic for runway 30. Preoccupied with the situation at hand; we told the tower we'd enter left traffic for runway 30 while entering the usual right traffic for runway 30. On downwind the tower commented 'oh you meant your other left.' the landing was uneventful. Neither the right seat pilot nor the flight test engineer (fte) caught the error until the tower commented when we called downwind.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An improper traffic pattern entry was made by a PC12 Test Pilot returning from a test flight on which an uncommanded input moved the rudder full right and the system did not respond to subsequent manual override attempts.

Narrative: A flight supporting return to service of a PC12 was conducted. Flight was conducted with the dual purpose of validating airplane operation after a two-year hiatus (FCF) and defining the requirement for stall characteristics flight-testing with the upgraded PT6A-67P engine installed and operating at rated power (14 CFR 23.201/.203). Coming off the fifth stall I noted that the rudder trim had been driven to the right hand stop. After stabilizing in level flight at 160 KIAS we attempted; without success; to center the trim manually as the auto trim system was not responding. We returned to base at 120 KIAS with both feet on the left pedal. Normal traffic is right traffic for Runway 30. Preoccupied with the situation at hand; we told the Tower we'd enter left traffic for Runway 30 while entering the usual right traffic for Runway 30. On downwind the Tower commented 'oh you meant your other left.' The landing was uneventful. Neither the right seat pilot nor the Flight Test Engineer (FTE) caught the error until the Tower commented when we called downwind.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	974025
Time
Date	201109
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PC-12
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Landing
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Rudder Trim System
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 12140 Flight Crew Type 112
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

An improper traffic pattern entry was made by a PC12 test pilot returning from a test flight on which an uncommanded input moved the rudder full right and the system did not respond to subsequent manual override attempts.