Aviation Safety

Turbulence Flap
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 it gets below VFE or VLE, you respectively can lower the flaps or landing gear, if so equipped. That will slow you down more, of course.

Extending the landing gear is okay, but suggesting that extending the flaps to slow down in turbulence is a good idea is, well, a very bad idea. Flaps, besides increasing drag, cause a considerable increase in the airfoil camber and, in some cases,…

At about 1430 Mountain time, the glider collided with terrain during takeoff. The Private pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries; the glider was substantially damaged. The tow pilot subsequently stated that, with the towplane at about 40 feet agl and the glider airborne, the glider assumed a severe pitch-up attitude. The tow rope separated and the glider climbed to about 150 feet agl. The glider stalled, making a right turn while descending toward terrain….

Its crew lost control of the business jet on a maintenance test flight at about 1800 Central time. The event occurred while setting up for a stall series at 17,000 feet msl. The two pilots and four passengers sustained minor injuries. The crew calculated that the stick shaker was to activate at 115 knots, with stick pusher activation at 107.5 knots. Aerodynamic stall was expected at 105.5 knots. As the airplane slowed through approximately 126 KIAS, it abruptly rolled off onto the right wing and the nose dropped rapidly. There was no vibration or abnormal indication. The airplane rolled five to seven times, both to the right and the left. After neutralizing the ailerons, the pilot began a h…

The 23-hour Student pilot was flying his second solo flight in a tricycle gear single-engine airplane. While attempting a second landing, he misjudged the landing flare and the airplane bounced. During the recovery, he inadvertently pushed the yoke forward into a nose-low attitude. The nose landing gear impacted the runway and separated from the airframe….

At about 0755 Eastern time, the airplane collided with two telephone poles and wires during a go-around. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged; the Commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. According to witnesses, the airplane was observed near the middle of the runway approximately 20 feet above ground with its landing gear retracted. One witness-who recently witnessed a gear-up landing-reported hearing a scraping noise similar to that incident. The airplane climbed to an estimated altitude of 100 feet, then disappeared from view….

The airplane was substantially damaged at 1956 Central time in a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial takeoff. The Commercial pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger had been performing maintenance on the engine and elected to take a short flight to verify its operation. On the initial climb, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to return to the airport, and while attempting to make the airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane impacted in a nose-low attitude into a cotton field approximately 300 feet west of the runways extended centerline. There was no fir…

At 0921 Central time, the airplane experienced an in-flight breakup while maneuvering in a Level 5 and 6 thunderstorm. Instrument conditions prevailed at altitude; an IFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the Private pilot and single passenger received fatal injuries. A review of radar and performance data revealed that the airplane was at 16,000 feet msl when it entered an area covered by a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and which was the subject of a Convective SIGMET for a line of thunderstorms 40 nm wide. Tops of the thunderstorms were reported at 44,000 feet, with 2-inch hail, and possible wind gusts up to 60 knots….

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power at 1815 Eastern time while descending for a landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the airplane received substantial damage and the Private pilot reported minor injuries. While descending through 6000 feet, the pilot heard a pop sound and the engine began to run rough with partial power. The pilot declared an emergency and requested a clearance direct to the nearest airport. After a 180-degree turn and descending through clouds, the pilot observed the airport straight ahead. The pilot descended over the airport to lose altitude and turned on final approach, but the engine quit at 300 feet. Unable to reach the airport, the pilot initiated a for…

At 1525 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed following a loss of engine power and an uncontrolled descent shortly after takeoff. The two Commercial pilots aboard were fatally injured; visual conditions prevailed. At takeoff, the airplane accelerated smoothly and rotated at a point along the runway that was later than usual, according to witnesses. The airplane pitched nose-up about 20 to 30 degrees in the climb, and the airplanes landing gear retracted. When the airplane reached treetop height, black smoke trailed from the engine exhaust system, the engine sputtered and then stopped producing power. The airplane entered a smooth roll to the left, yawed left, then plunged to th…

The airplane crashed into Lake Harris at about 2030 Eastern time while attempting to land. Visual conditions prevailed; the airplane was substantially damaged. The Private pilot sustained minor injuries while the passenger was not injured. The pilot subsequently stated that, after flying locally, he waited for thunderstorms to move away from the airport. He then flew to the airport and entered the traffic pattern but performed a go-around. He reentered the traffic pattern and, while on the base leg, he noted the precision approach path indicator lights indicated the airplane was low. He added full power but the engine did not respond. He turned onto final approach and after recognizing that…