On February, 23, 2013, we had an airport open house at the Venice, Fla., Municipal Airport. It was a beautiful day, with a great turnout of people and airplanes, and a mix of aircraft ranging from LSAs to jets. Some attendees got more than they bargained for, however. That occurred when a pilotless Piper Malibu roared out of its parking spot, across a taxiway and into a ditch. The aircraft and its owner were not taking part in the open house, though many people including pilots and visitors got to watch. It was fortunate the airplane hit the ditch since the opportunities to cause not only breathtaking damage to other aircraft but also loss of life were huge.
The Cessna 206’s cargo-door configuration has been a concern since the aircraft’s introduction in the 1960s, with Cessna modifying newer models with design changes.Flying/Cessna Aircraft Company
Key Takeaways:
An incident at an airport open house highlighted the extreme danger of improper hand-propping, as a pilotless Piper Malibu unexpectedly started and roared across a taxiway, emphasizing that even larger aircraft engines can fire up if safety protocols are ignored.
A reader provided a technical correction, clarifying that VMC (minimum control speed) for twin-engine aircraft is based on the inoperative engine windmilling, not feathered.
A reader expressed strong concern and criticism regarding the FAA's closure of ATC towers due to budget cuts, arguing it compromises General Aviation safety in congested airspace and represents an assault on the freedom to fly.
On February, 23, 2013, we had an airport open house at the Venice, Fla., Municipal Airport. It was a beautiful day, with a great turnout of people and airplanes, and a mix of aircraft ranging from LSAs to jets. Some attendees got more than they bargained for, however.
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