Aviation Safety

Though perhaps unintended, the results of Tom Turner’s survey of 100 CFIs concerning slips in the December 2011 issue (“Slips…Who Needs ‘Em?”) further reinforce my experience that instructors—and by extension, the pilots they train—generally lack a solid understanding of slip dynamics. For example, the listed advantages of slipping focused mostly on stock answers: losing altitude, canceling crosswind drift. One respondent commented about fire. But what about the utility of slips and slipping turns for split flaps, jammed ailerons or a jammed rudder? Or asymmetric thrust events in twins?

At 1256 Pacific time, the pilot reported loss of engine power. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain during the forced landing. The private pilot, who had rented the airplane, and his two passengers were fatally injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 2055 Eastern time when it impacted trees and terrain before coming to rest inverted in a heavily wooded area. Night instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The non-instrument rated private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured.

At approximately 1250 Central time, the helicopter sustained substantial damage while making a run-on landing to a grass field. The pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the Department of Homeland Security as a public use aircraft. Visual conditions prevailed.

The helicopter crashed into the East River during takeoff from the East 34th Street Heliport at 1525 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. Two passengers sustained serious injuries and one passenger was killed. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage.

At about 1450 Eastern time, the airplane incurred substantial damage when it impacted trees following a total loss of engine power. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger was killed. Visual conditions prevailed. About 20 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at 1500 feet agl, the pilot noted the engine oil temperature was rising. Once the engine temperature past the 200 degree point, he checked with the onboard GPS for the nearest airport.

The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a highway at about 1334 Eastern time, following total loss of engine power during the post-maintenance test flight. Visual conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot and pilot-rated other crewmember sustained minor injuries. There were no ground injuries.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 2010 Eastern time when it impacted a hazard beacon tower during approach. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. Night visual conditions prevailed and the airplane was operating on an IFR flight plan. The airplane entered the traffic pattern on a right downwind leg for the runway. As the airplane turned from base to final, it struck an approximately 100-foot-tall hazard beacon tower. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest inverted against a residence.

At about 1545 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a ditching in the Chesapeake Bay following loss of engine power. Both the airline transport pilot and the passenger successfully exited the airplane. After the ditching, the pilot and passenger attempted to swim to Smith Island; The pilot survived with minor injuries. The passenger was unable to complete the swim and died. Visual conditions prevailed.

At 1640 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field after a loss of engine power while on approach. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.