Aviation Safety back issues from October 2007:
Southern exposure.(EDITOR'S LOG)
Oct 01, 2007; ... Astute readers perusing the masthead at left will notice a slight change from recent issues: This magazine's editorial office address has changed from Virginia to Florida. After a few years of freelancing for this and other outlets, publishing company Belvoir Media Group made me an offer I ...
It's not a VASI, dummy.(UNICOM)(Visual Approach Slope Indictor)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2007; ... The sidebar discussion "Safer Descents" (September 2007) called the four horizontal lights in the pictures a "VASI" (Visual Approach Slope Indictor). In fact, what was photographed was a "PAPI" (Precision Approach Path Indicator). A VASI consists of two or three pairs of lights arranged in ...
Assuming the position.(UNICOM)(taxi into position and hold)
Oct 01, 2007; ... Regarding our exchange on taxi into position and hold (TIPH) operations at non-towered airports (Unicom, July 2007), I spoke with Gary Koff of the FAA's Flight Standards District Office in Denver. His view is that TIPH does not apply to non-towered airports. His view matches ...
Communicate the situation.(UNICOM)
Oct 01, 2007; ... I devour your journal as soon as it arrives, since there is always something I can learn in every issue. August's articles (SA, Lost and Found and It's Not Just Talk) brought to mind experiences I've had that illustrate some of their points very strongly. I'm a relatively low-time (1080 ...
Gliding with precision: when your single's engine quits, you become the pilot of a fairly lousy glider. How to make the most of your altitude, the energy source now keeping you aloft.(STICK AND RUDDER)
Oct 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] From almost our very first flying lesson, pilots are taught what to do in the event a single-engine airplane's lone powerplant fails. As with too many concepts at that early stage of our training, we basically accept what we're taught without many ...
Why can't we maneuver? Low-level maneuvering accidents are increasing. Why many of them can be traced to poor decision making and what we can do about it.(RISK MANAGEMENT)
Oct 01, 2007; ... Most airplanes spend the vast majority of their lives in straight and level flight; climbing, turning and descending only as necessary to get on and off a runway. It's when pilots start yanking and banking, however gently and smoothly their control inputs, that problems start to arise--and ...
Flying in the margins: understanding and flying marginal VFR weather involves more than just playing the game of ceiling and visibility numbers.(AIRMANSHIP)(visual flight rules)
Oct 01, 2007; ... In some ways VFR flying can be more challenging than flying under instrument flight rules. Apart from achieving the skill of being able to read and understand the instruments, controlling an aircraft solely by reference to them, talking to and taking notes from ATC and planning your next ...
Someone to watch over you observations from air traffic controllers on what GA pilots do right, and wrong, in the ATC system.(FLYING THE SYSTEM)(general aviation, air traffic control)
Oct 01, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ancient lore is filled with stories of secret societies of Watchers. Whether the subject was werewolves, vampires or keepers of holy grails, Watchers followed their activities, tracked their movements and, when necessary, interceded to protect society or ...
Busted boost: turbocharger failures are hardly everyday events. Some are emergent and some are routine. Here's how to tell the difference.(AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS)
Oct 01, 2007; ... The controller didn't speculate, but one commonality between many RJ and fractional ownership programs is they attract a large number of relatively low-time pilots right out of aviation schools and fast-track ab initio academies, and employ them in turbine aircraft. They may not ...
Choice of action to make the choices determining each flight's outcome, we first need information on which to base decisions.(ACCIDENT PROBE )
Oct 01, 2007; ... Almost by definition, pilots generally are self-reliant, often preferring to depend on their own talent and experience instead of someone else's. At the end of the day, choosing to fly a personal airplane is, well, personal. Sharing with others our enjoyment of aviation often is a trait ...
Lancair IV experimental: August 1, 2007, Sylvan Grove, Kan.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Kansas)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At approximately 1615 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it collided with terrain following a power loss. Visual conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. ...
Cessna 177RG: August 1, 2007, Kennesaw, Ga.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Georgia)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing at about 1720 Eastern time. The private pilot and sole occupant was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to preliminary information, the pilot contacted ATC, stating he was approximately 5 miles ...
Grumman American AA5A: August 3, 2007, Elk River, Idaho.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The pilot was attempting a landing on the unimproved runway, and porpoised, with the airplane bouncing and veering to the right. The pilot reduced power to idle, and manipulated the controls to hold the nosewheel out of the runway ruts. The airplane then encountered a ...
Cessna T206h: August 4, 2007, Lovell, Maine.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At 1000 Eastern time, the float-equipped airplane nosed over during landing on Lake Kezar at the completion of a sightseeing flight and was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, one passenger received serious injuries and three ...
Piper Pa-34-200T: August 4, 2007, Big Creek, Idaho.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane landed long at about 1100 Mountain time, overrunning the departure end of the runway and sliding down an embankment. The airplane came to rest ...
Beech 36: August 5, 2007 In Jean, Nev.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At about 2040 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airline transport pilot executed a forced landing in an open dirt field ....
Piper Pa-46: August 6, 2007, Sitka, Alaska.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane was destroyed by impact and post-impact fire when it collided with trees and a residence at about 1255 Alaska time during an RNAV GPS instrument approach. The private, instrument-rated pilot, and the three passengers aboard received fatal injuries. Instrument conditions ...
Piper Pa-22-160: August 9, 2007, Leonardtown, Md.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At 0707 Eastern time, the airplane made a forced landing to an open field on its initial takeoff climb. Visual conditions prevailed. A post-crash fire destroyed the airplane. The private pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The remaining passenger was transported to a local ...
Piper Pa-28-140: August 10, 2007, West Bend, Wis.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane sustained substantial damage on impacting terrain at 0510 Central time. The private pilot and sole occupant ...
Cessna 172C: August 11, 2007, Pascagoula, Miss.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At 1305 Central time the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After the accident, the pilot told investigators the aircraft's engine began to ...
U.S. civil aviation accidents.(BY THE NUMBERS)(Table)
Oct 01, 2007 ... <Pre> BY THE NUMBERS U.S. Civil Aviation Accidents ALL ACCIDENTS YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY 20072006 GENERAL AVIATION 872 919 PART 135 36 41 PART 121 16 22 20072006 TOTAL ...
Cessna T210G: August 11, 2007, Lomita, Calif.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane impacted two houses during a forced landing following a loss of engine power and sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, who was the only person on board, received fatal injuries. One person on the ground received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. ...
Cessna 195: August 12, 2007, San Diego, Calif.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The pilot reported the landing approach was normal. He asked the local controller for the winds, and was told they were from 260 degrees at seven knots with no reported gusts. He flared the airplane for a touchdown in "a three-point landing attitude." As expected, he heard the ...
Waco Classic aircraft Corp YMF-5: August 14, 2007, Nantucket, Mass.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... According to the pilot, "with a crosswind at 10-plus knots, I attempted a takeoff on runway 15. After the tailwheel had lifted but before takeoff, a [wind] gust suddenly drove the aircraft towards the right edge of the runway. Rather then incur a ground loop for the amount of correction ...
Mooney M20R: August 14, 2007, Wichita, Kan.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Wichita, Kansas)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At approximately 1310 central time the airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during landing. The private pilot and airline transport pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by the Mooney Airplane Company. Visual ...
Piper Pa-44-180: August 16, 2007, New Bern, N.C.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(North Carolina)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane sustained minor damage during the initial climb at about 1830 Eastern time. The airline transport pilot and a student pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the airline transport pilot (ATP), the student pilot had just completed a ...
Cirrus Design Corp. SR20: August 17, 2007, Siassconset, Mass.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At 2021 Eastern time, the airplane's airframe parachute was deployed after the non-instrumentrated private pilot entered encountering instrument flight conditions. The airplane received substantial damage. The pilot received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. ...
Beech B36TC: August 18, 2007, Clearwater, Fla.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane crashed at about 1035 Eastern time while attempting a takeoff. Visual conditions prevailed; instrument flight plan had been filed. The private pilot received serious injuries, and two passengers received minor injuries. The pilot later said the takeoff roll had been ...
Cessna T210N: August 19, 2007, Old Bridge, N.J.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(New Jersey)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... At about 1900 Eastern time the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After a flight from North Carolina to New Jersey, the ...
Cessna 182R: August 20, 2007, Dayton, Wyo.(NTSB Reports: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The airplane, operated by the Civil Air Patrol as CAPS flight 4940, was destroyed when it impacted terrain and caught fire at approximately 1700 mountain time. Marginal visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot and two non-pilot observers were fatally injured. The flight ...
...Doesn't feel right...(LEARNING EXPERIENCES)
Oct 01, 2007 ... I am a student pilot with about 60 hours total time split between a Beech Mentor T-34C, Cessna 172 and my just-purchased personal plane, a Beech Musketeer. I had flown about 20 hours with a CFI in the few months preceding my story, in both a 172 and the Musketeer. I had four flights for a ...
Stuck fuel gauge: Aeronca 7CCM.(SQUAWK BOX)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The aircraft lost power and landed in a field, coming to rest on its nose. During the post-crash investigation, the pilot stated he checked the fuel gauge prior to the flight and that it read one-half full. He did not visually ...
Jammed fuel control linkage: Beech B100.(SQUAWK BOX)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... During a check ride, the chief pilot shut down the right engine in flight. When attempting a restart, the fuel shut-off lever jammed in the off position. The crew conducted a successful and uneventful single engine landing at the base airport. Upon ...
Split-flap condition: Beech A65.(SQUAWK BOX)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The crew flew a normal approach and landing in VFR conditions. After the landing rollout, the flaps were retracted. When exiting the aircraft, the crew noticed the inner flap on the port side was still extended. The flap was manually The following information is derived from the FAA's ...
Cracked engine mount brackets: Cessna: 175.(SQUAWK BOX)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... The engine mount attachment bracket (p/n 0513132-11) was found broken and cracked. The cracks were on the inboard and outboard sides of the AN960-616 washer(s) at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. ...
Stripped pitch-trim jack screws: Cessna 185e.(SQUAWK BOX)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2007 ... After a pilot squawked the horizontal stabilizer trim, technicians found the barrel side of the trim jackscrew (p/n 0712500-13) had stripped out. ...
Letting down the pax.(UNICOM)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2007; ... Your article, Letting Down Easy (September), judged by my 51 years of flying, left out the most critical issue in descent planning: pressure changes. The critical factor for me is 300 feet per minute for passenger comfort. This turns out to be 1500 feet every ...