Aviation Safety

I’ve always been one to advocate getting as much airplane as you can afford for your mission. For example, if your analysis says a Cessna 172 meets your needs, seriously consider a 182. The operating costs aren’t that much more, it’s faster and it carries more. Plus, it’s a good bet your mission will expand—mission […]

I was tootling along at low speed in my little experimental, leaning out the Marvel-Schebler carburetor one nice day, when the engine suddenly stopped. I immediately went through the restart procedures, but to no avail. Realizing that I had run out of options, I turned my little Sonex into the wind and landed on a hillside […]

February 2, 2021, Leicester, Mass. Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage At about 1645 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it apparently entered a tailplane stall during an in-flight icing encounter and collided with terrain. The commercial pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed at the accident site; an IFR flight plan […]

Beechcraft A200 King Air Mismatched Pitot Tubes During altimeter and pitot static system recertification, the technician observed the left pitot tube was incorrect and was actually a right one. Further investigation revealed the p/n was misidentified as a left pitot tube (p/n PH502-3) when the drain hole and embossed “top” mark were consistent with a […]

Where I come from, we call it a “Discovery Flight.” It’s a short flight that gives a non-pilot an introduction to the flight school and flying in general. “You’ll take the controls!” is a time-honored way for flight schools to market the flights, which I really enjoy doing. Some of the customers have never been […]

In the March 2021 issue, I discussed the need to restructure the way we teach flying, to focus ab initio training on developing habits that don’t have to be unlearned as one progresses through flight training and into advanced ratings and operations. The classic example is developing in students the habit of using airspeed as […]

On September 5, 2013, a hunter near Glenallen, Alaska, was killed in a crash while searching for a moose he had earlier shot and field-dressed. According to a friend who was hunting with him, the pilot had failed to mark the area where the carcass could be found before hiking away from the site and […]

I was struck by what I believe was an omission in the commentary in “Real-World VFR into IMC” (February 2021). Prior to my instrument rating, the procedure upon entering IMC I had committed to memory was a variation of aviate, navigate and communicate: Trust instruments completely, turn 180 degrees while maintaining level flight to get […]

It’s the time of year when pilots turn to finding new destinations and experiences that can only be attained by flying a personal airplane. For many, the goal will be simply to fly somewhere different after more than a year of being encouraged to stay home and away from other people. For those who want […]

Beech A36 Bonanza Leaking Fuel Hose During annual inspection, the technician noticed evidence of a possible fire in the engine compartment. Further inspection found the fuel hose (p/n 330995f-0060) from fuel flow sensor to fuel spider had been leaking. Removed fuel hose, pressurized it with air and found it leaking throughout its entire length. Part […]