Accident Probes

The mission was to transport myself and my wife from the Northeast U.S. to Florida for the holidays. My chosen platform was a well-worn Piper Arrow II rented from a local flying club. This particular airplane wasnt my first choice, but it beat walking or taking the airlines. After a long week of work and travel planning, we launched late in the afternoon on a Friday and I put the heading indicator on S.

Pilots wanting to fly but who dont have the resources to own and operate their own airplane usually find themselves renting from an FBO or training organization, joining a flying club or entering into some kind of shared ownership arrangement. Renting or sharing airplanes often can be a good choice for someone with varying needs, but experiences can vary and your operational priorities, to put it gently, may not be shared by the organization supplying the aircraft.

Many years ago, I happened to overhear one pilot ask another, How did they find out? The question revolved around a situation resulting from an error in judgment concerning operation of an unairworthy (out-of-annual-inspection) aircraft. While there was no accident, a somewhat unusual event occurred that was traced to a mouse nest in the carburetor heater duct, which caused a rough-running engine. After a precautionary landing, mechanics discovered the problem and thought it was hilarious.

I read Jeb Burnsides article about ILS and LPV approaches, (Say Approach Request, December 2017) and therein was a comment that had me doing internet searches: Im sure all of us are completing that paperwork every 30 days, right along with logging when we update the GPS navigators database.

Most pilots look forward to the challenge involved in qualifying to fly a new make or model aircraft. They anticipate the ritual involved in the checkout and are understandably proud when they receive a signoff from a flight instructor. That ritual may involve one flight and three touch-and-goes, or multiple flights and several instrument approaches, among other operations. Regardless, managing the risks of introducing yourself to a new aircraft is at the core of this…

The pilot later stated the approach to land was steeper and faster than normal as he was aware of cranes near Runway 18s approach end. The airplane landed long and instead of going around, the pilot continued with the landing. The airplane went off the runway and into Tampa Bay. Observed weather included wind from 170 degrees at eight knots.

I had flown to Florida to visit friends in their beachfront condo. They were not pilots and had no concept of things like trading fuel for cabin load or the dangers of overloading an airplane. That evening, after a few drinks, the idea arose of a day trip to Key West to take in the sights. Against my better judgment, I agreed.

Early in our primary training, we encountered the concept of maneuvering speed (VA), or design maneuvering speed as its sometimes called. Were basically told its the speed at below which we should fly in turbulence and when entering advanced maneuvers, hence its name. If were lucky and have a good ground-school instructor, well also learn that VA changes with weight: As the airplanes weight decreases, so will maneuvering speed. Although VA isnt marked on our airspeed indicators, there should be a placard listing it at the airplanes gross weight, with the admonition to not make full control deflections above it.

Spend much time around aircraft owners or a maintenance facility and youre likely to hear the term ferry permit. Whats being talked about is what the FAA calls a special flight permit. Its the paperwork the agency uses to approve the flight of an aircraft that may not currently meet applicable airworthiness requirements but is capable for safe flight. Perhaps the most common reason for a special flight permit is lack of an annual inspection within the preceding 12 months.

One of the great joys of flying is a routine flight. Im not referring to a flight that went as expected, which undeniably is the greatest joy, Im talking about flying a routine route. If you hop in your plane on a Saturday afternoon to fly to your favorite $100 hamburger location and get a respite from your weekday worries, or a cargo pilot plying a daily route, you probably know the pleasure I am talking about. Pilots who fly routine flights can feel at one with their aircraft, heightening their sensitivity to any little deviation, like unusual engine noises or subtle performance changes with different loads.