Aviation Safety

After several weeks of not flying, I had finally found the time and energy to unlimber the Debonair and get some air under its wings. I was out doing some basic maneuvers and just letting the airplane exercise itself before heading off to a nearby non-towered field for some landings and cheap fuel. I had […]

Despite their increasing obsolescence, vacuum pumps remain installed aboard the vast majority of piston-powered aircraft, providing the energy to spin the gyroscopes in flight instruments like attitude indicators and directional gyros. Even newer aircraft sporting factory-installed “glass” panels may have a vacuum (or pressure) pump powering one or more backup instruments. Odds are, the airplane […]

Thanks in part to requirements in the new Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for applicants to demonstrate proficiency with it on practical tests, risk management is becoming an integral part of the training process. Outlined in every task of every ACS for certificates and ratings, applicants are evaluated on their ability to identify, assess and mitigate […]

There’s a time-worn technique for flying IFR into an airport that is not served by an instrument approach. Fly the approach into a nearby airport and, when you break out, cancel IFR and fly visually to your planned destination. Although this may seem to be an invitation for illegal scud-running (and I’m certain many have […]

It was annual time again for my employer’s A36 Bonanza. It’s worth the trip from our base in Wichita, Kan., to Bob Ripley’s Southern Aero in Griffin, Ga., just south of Atlanta, for his level of expert attention. I chose Birmingham, Ala. (BHM), for a fuel stop; not the cheapest avgas, but one where I […]

We’ve been victimized by both types of wake turbulence you described in your article (“Wake Turbulence,” February 2020). Some years ago we were on a left downwind for Runway 16L at Van Nuys, Calif., at 1000 feet agl. Without warning, our heads were slammed into the cockpit ceiling. Then, nothing. I looked up and around […]

What a year the last few weeks have been. The ongoing health crisis in the U.S. and throughout the world has upended the concepts of “normal” and “everyday life” for billions. As this was being written in late March, U.S. state and local jurisdictions were competing to put into place travel restrictions, business closures, stay-at-home […]

Cessna 208A Cargomaster Failed Shimmy Dampener During takeoff roll, the crew experienced a severe nosewheel shimmy at approximately 40 knots and aborted takeoff. Troubleshooting revealed a failed shimmy dampener (p/n 26940022). Removed old-style shimmy dampener and replaced with upgraded Lord component (p/n SE0170-7) per SK208-164A. Ops and taxi checks performed with no defects. Part total […]

It was a bright sunny morning in Sarasota, Florida, as I headed out on my first solo cross-country fight. I was in a Cessna 152 I had flown many times; my destination was Ft. Myers, and I had flown there several times with my instructor as well. As I neared Ft. Myers, Florida’s unpredictable summer […]

January 1, 2020, Ada, Okla. Cessna T210L Turbo Centurion At about 1545 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an off-field forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the flight, which originated in Denver, Colo., with Shreveport, La., as its destination. At […]