Aviation Safety

Piper PA18
Tail Wheel Spring Assembly
On the landing roll-out, the aircraft drifted to the left and went into soft ground, coming to rest on its nose. Subsequent inspection found the r/h tailwheel-link assembly to have a partially straightened link (p/n 472681), causing the assembly failure.Part Total Time: Unknown.

Piper PA24
Leaking Landing Gear Strut
Type 5606 hydraulic fluid was found leaking from the right main landing gear strut housing (p/n 27053-01). Inspection found the 4130 steel gear door attachment had created dissimilar metal corrosion, which was the probable cause for the pinhole leak. The mechanic recommends periodic removal and inspection…

Stuck On Top
I just read Stuck On Top (February 2005) and wanted to add the importance of taking as much fuel as possible (as long as weight is not a problem) whenever flying, no matter how short or long the flight. This gives more options in case you get stuck. Also related to this is properly leaning the fuel mixture, which will increase your range.

Alan Lawrence
Via e-mail

———-

Reckless Stupidity
In my view, Mr. Stephens self-described misadventure (Stuck On Top, February 2005) is one of the most egregious examples of reckless stupidity, pride and selfishness I have ever heard of. I am completely puzzled at your positive comments concer…

At about 0815 Mountain time, the airplane collided with static cables from a power line pole assembly. The Private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed for the local flight. According to the airplane owner, the pilot had stopped by his residence around 0600 the morning of the accident to ask if he could take the owners daughter flying. The owner indicated that it was too early to get her up, so the pilot went to the airport by himself. Around the time of the accident the owner and his spouse were in their front yard with their coffee and newspaper walking towards the back of the house when they saw the accident…

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain while flying the VOR/GPS Runway 22 approach at approximately 2145 Mountain time. Night instrument conditions prevailed for the air ambulance repositioning flight. The ATP-rated pilot and two crew members sustained fatal injuries; one crew member sustained serious injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, at approximately 2115 to pick up a patient. According to the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center, the airplane was lost from radar at 9200 feet msl in the middle of the procedure turn for the instrument approach to Runway 22 at 2142….

At approximately 2010 Central time, the airplane impacted terrain about eight miles northeast of the Monroe Regional Airport, Monroe, La. Both occupants, each of whom held a Commercial pilot certificate, received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The instrument proficiency flight had departed about 30 minutes prior to the accident and was being operated in instrument conditions. After multiple approaches, one pilot had to execute a missed approach due to a failure to maintain a correct approach track. The aircraft was cleared for another instrument approach, but the pilot again had to execute a missed approach. During that missed approach, the controller gave the pilot a radar vect…

The piston twin was destroyed following a loss of control during its initial takeoff climb from the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport (PTN), near Patterson, La., at 0954 Central time. The ATP-rated pilot and his dog were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the planned flight to the Houma-Terrebone Airport (HUM), near Houma, La. One witness observed the airplane climbing at a steep nose-high attitude with the gear and flaps retracted. At approximately 800 feet agl and approximately halfway down the runway, the witness observed the airplane start a slow left turn and reported that both propellers were turning. The witness said the airplanes initial turn was slow, but then develo…

At 0913 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing. No one among the Private pilot or the two passengers was injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; the flight originated at the Akron-Fulton Airport (AKR), at 0840. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane picked up real heavy ice, according the to the pilot. The wing, propeller, and windshield deicing systems were activated, but the windshields weeping alcohol system could not keep pace with the ice buildup, and the windshield blurred within seconds. Ice accumulated on the wing deicing boots while they were inflated, and ice shedding from the propellers was heard throughout the flight. The pilot requested…

January 1, 2005, Ainsworth, Neb.
Cessna 551 Citation
At around 1120 Central time, the aircraft was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain while attempting to land. Instrument conditions prevailed; the Instrument-rated Private pilot and three passengers were uninjured. Two passengers reported minor injuries. At 1113:16, the airplane was cleared for a GPS Runway 17 approach. The pilot later stated that the airplane started to accumulate ice at around 4000 feet msl during the approach. Subsequently, the airplane descended out of IMC at between 300 and 400 feet agl. The Citations cockpit windows were obscured by the accumulation of ice and the pilot e…

At about 1315 Eastern time the airplane veered off the runway while landing. Visual conditions prevailed; there were no injuries among the Private-rated pilot-in-command and the CFI, although the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he had not flown for a couple of weeks and asked the instructor to accompany him. While on short final, the aircraft yawed to the left due to a strong crosswind and the pilot said he was unable to make the corrections needed to land straight. During the landing roll-out, the left main gear departed the runway surface and the flight instructor took control of the aircraft, adding full power. The aircraft lifted off slightly, turned abruptly…

The Private pilot and the three passengers were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed in a collision with the ground and with trees at the end of a flight with an intended destination of Greenwood, S.C. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Nearby weather reports included calm winds, visibility of 10 sm, with broken cloud conditions at 2200 feet agl and an overcast at 3400 feet agl. All major components of the aircraft were found at the accident site; a fuel odor was detected in the locations where fuel tank pieces were found. Each propeller blade displayed chordwise gouges across the leading edge and forward face. All flight control surfaces were observed at the acciden…