Aviation Safety back issues from August 2006:
Dear Uncle.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Editorial)
Aug 01, 2006; ... How have you been lately? It seems your name makes the news often, and not always in the best light. We admit that we haven't written as often as we should; hope you'll understand that we're all pretty busy these days. We know you are, too. All of us here hope you'll soon shrug off the ...
Turbulence flap.(UNICOM)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 01, 2006; ... I am a retired aeronautical engineer and active CFI. I conduct many aviation safety seminars and teach, among other subjects, safety aspects for operating in turbulence. I have a comment regarding "Taking It Slow" (May 2006). In this article, author Jeff Pardo states, "Then when ...
Glider BFR?(UNICOM)(Letter to the editor)
Aug 01, 2006; ... As a glider and power instructor I enjoyed Peter Tobin's article ("Defeating Gravity," June 2006) concerning the benefits to power pilots of gaining some experience in gliders. I fully support that assertion. I do have two negative comments, however, on this otherwise informative article ....
Staying proficient in a fuel-short world: the cost of avgas is becoming the deciding factor in whether to drive, take or the airlines or even fly at all. Here's how to stay proficient if you're flying less than ever.(AIRMANSHIP)
Aug 01, 2006; ... If you're like me, you're somewhat still in shock over aviation fuel prices. Less than five years ago, I figured it cost around $40 an hour in fuel alone to run my airplane, an IO-520-powered Beech Debonair. Now, it's closer to $100 an hour and I haven't seen a similar increase in my ...
Building a safer trainer: Diamond, Liberty and Symphony are all trying. Although they've made progress, they haven't achieved perfection yet.(SAFETY ANALYSIS)(Product/service evaluation)
Aug 01, 2006; ... When pilots argue which general aviation trainer is best there are usually one or two more opinions on the subject than there are speakers. If someone asks what trainer those present flew, the almost unanimous answer is the Cessna 150 or its step-brother, the 152. But it has been more than ...
Rethinking risk management: experience isn't just what you've done or what happens to you; it's what you think about what you've done or what has happened to you. A good pilot is also always thinking ahead--and back.(RISK MANAGEMENT)
Aug 01, 2006; ... It may not be blatantly obvious, but in the realm of flight training, at least, we're living through the beginning of another upheaval of sorts. Along with the more promising changes such as Free Flight, advances in avionics, or the new Sport pilot certificate and associated ...
The yellow brick road: each year, a surprising number of pilots forget that before one can fly, one has to taxi. Staying on the taxiway centerline is a great start, but there's more.
Aug 01, 2006 ... For many, taxiing an airplane can be an unnatural act. They've probably just climbed out of a vehicle steered by turning a wheel with their hands; now, they're being asked to steer with their feet on a couple of pedals they probably can't even see. And many airport taxiways and ramps leave ...
Five ways to better NPAs: non-precision approaches may lack vertical guidance, but they're anything but imprecise. Here are five things you need to think about before accepting that clearance.(non-precision approach)
Aug 01, 2006 ... We've discussed the differences and conflicts between various types of approaches before but, if there is any procedure that meets the "good news/bad news" test, it's the generic non-precision approach, or NPA. On one hand, we like them because they cut us some slack if we're feeling ...
If I had a hammer: not all airplanes are created equal. You need to think about whether yours is appropriate for the mission.(aircraft accidents)
Aug 01, 2006; ... There's an old saying: "When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." In other words, when resources are few, people tend to use the only ones available to them, even if they're inappropriate and have the potential to create as many problems as they solve. Just as ...
de Havilland DHC-3T: June 1, 2006, Port Townsend, Wash.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At approximately 0830 Pacific time, the float-equipped airplane was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing in Puget Sound. The Airline Transport pilot and his 10 passengers were not injured. The flight was being as a Part 135 air taxi; instrument conditions prevailed. The ...
Gates Learjet 35A: June 2, 2006, Groton, Conn.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The airplane was destroyed and the two Airline Transport pilots aboard were killed when the business jet impacted water and light stanchions at about 1440 Eastern time while on approach to landing. Three passengers survived with minor injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed for the Part ...
Piper PA-28-160: June 2, 2006, Laurel, Mon.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At approximately 1420 Mountain time, the airplane sustained substantial damage following a total loss of engine power and uncontrolled descent. The Private pilot, the airplane's sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. An interview with the pilot revealed ...
North American SNJ-6: June 3, 2006, American Falls, Idaho.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck a power line during cruise flight at about 1830 Mountain time. Following the collision, the flight continued to its destination and landed without further incident. The Commercial pilot and single passenger were not injured. Visual ...
Cessna 421B: June 4, 2006, Jacksonville, Fla.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At about 1130 Eastern time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a gear-up landing in visual conditions. The pilot later reported that, during initial climb, he smelled smoke and felt heat in the cockpit, then turned back toward the airport. He said several aural warnings ...
Piper PA-28-180: June 5, 2006, Du Bois, Penn.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The airplane was substantially damaged while landing at 1615 Eastern time. One Private pilot aboard received serious injuries; another Private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. One of the pilots later reported the airplane was "floating" on final approach when it ...
Beech A36 Bonanza: June 5, 2006, Ennis, Mon.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At about 1730 Mountain time the airplane sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. The pilot and three passengers aboard the airplane were not injured; visual conditions ...
Christen Eagle I experimental: June 6, 2006, Pocahontas, Ark.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at approximately 0800 Central time. The Airline Transport pilot and sole occupant was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he was in cruise flight at 4500 feet msl ...
Beech H35 Bonanza: June 7, 2006, Reno, Nev.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At 1505 Pacific time, the airplane lost engine power and crashed into a residential home. A fire ensued and the airplane was destroyed. The Student pilot/owner and a flight instructor were killed; visual conditions prevailed. According to ATC records and radar data, the flight departed and ...
Cessna P210N: June 7, 2006, Carson City, Nev.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The airplane lost power and collided with objects during a forced landing at 1130 Pacific time, sustaining substantial damage. The Commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was on a left downwind and the pilot had completed the before-landing ...
Beech B36TC Bonanza: June 8, 2006, Gregory, Mich.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At about 1915 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power. A post-impact fire occurred. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was being flown on its first flight after an annual inspection. A ...
By the numbers: U.S. civil aviation accidents.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... <Pre> BY THE NUMBERS U.S. Civil Aviation Accidents YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY 2006 2005 GENERAL AVIATION523609 PART 13S 28 23 PART 121 ...
Lancair IV-P experimental: June 8, 2006, Provo, Utah.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The turbine-powered aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants fatally injured at approximately 2345 Mountain time on impact with Utah Lake during final approach to land. Night visual conditions prevailed. Preliminary review of data recorded by onboard systems revealed that at ...
Piper PA-32R-301T: June 12, 2006, Parkville, Mo.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The airplane experienced an in-flight break-up during a visual approach to Kansas City International Airport at 1912 Central time. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane ...
Beech 65-A90-1: June 12, 2006, Tampa, Fla.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At about 1235 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed for the public use flight. The Commercial pilot received fatal injuries while a pilot-rated crewmember received serious injuries. A pilot-rated witness stated the airplane appeared ...
Beech B36TC Bonanza: June 14, 2006, North Garden, Va.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The airplane was destroyed and the Commercial pilot and passenger fatally injured at 1114 Eastern time on impact with terrain while attempting to land at a private turf field. Instrument conditions prevailed. While receiving vectors in an attempt to locate the VFR-only airport, the pilot ...
RV-6A/RV-8 experimentals: June 18, 2006, Peru, Ill.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... At 0848 Central time, the two aircraft collided while preparing to land. The RV-6A was destroyed and its pilot fatally injured; the RV-8 substantially damaged; its pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Both airplanes were part of a four-aircraft formation preparing to land at ...
Running out of rudder.(aircraft landing in crosswind)
Aug 01, 2006 ... When I was a Flight Instructor, one of the pieces of trivia we dispensed to students was that "Maximum Demonstrated Crosswind" isn't necessarily the absolute maximum crosswind you can land in. It merely represents the crosswind the test pilot landed in safely during certification of the ...
Deice system contamination: Beech Model 58 Baron.(Cracks And Collapses)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... "During prolonged periods of operation in heavy precipitation considerable amounts of water enter into the pneumatic system," stated the mechanic. "Inspection of the pneumatic system revealed large amounts of water being passed through the deice boot ejector. (Approximately five weeks ...
Cracked engine mount brackets: Cessna 175B.(Cracks And Collapses)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... The aircraft experienced a hard landing. During the landing the two top engine mount attach brackets failed behind the firewall, allowing the top half of the firewall to fail, pulling forward and down about 18 inches. The engine mount attach bracket (p/n 0513132-11) fits onto the front of ...
Cracked exhaust riser: Diamond DA40-180.(Cracks And Collapses)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... A mechanic found a crack at the weld radius of a brand new exhaust riser for this aircraft's Lycoming IO-360 number two cylinder. "This is the first ...
Collapsed wing fuel tank: Grumman AA5-A.(Cracks And Collapses)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... "The right wing fuel tank collapsed during flight," stated the mechanic. "A safe landing was ...
Burned wire insulation: Mooney M20R.(Cracks And Collapses)(Brief article)
Aug 01, 2006 ... "While troubleshooting the recognition lights--which were on all the time--we found charred wire insulation in the wire harness feeding the overhead bank of switches that control exterior lighting. We traced the ...