Search Results for: Cessna 172

During post-flight inspection, cracks were discovered on the ELTs rod antenna, approximately six inches from the base. The #2 GPS lost signal during an RNAV approach, generating a warning on the Garmin G1000. An operator noted it had experienced four-plus failures of the whip antenna installed for the Artex ME406 ELT. Flight experienced en route loss of GPS reception on all four devices, including a GTN 750/650 installation plus two portable WAAS GPS receivers. The GNS 430W indicated no satellite coverage while in flight. A portable GPS also indicated lost coverage.

At about 0930 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed during a forced landing and subsequent post-impact fire after experiencing a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 1745 Central time, the airplane lost engine power shortly after takeoff. The airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged. The solo private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.The FAA reported the pilot was doing touch-and-goes. The engine lost power and the airplane impacted trees and terrain about a mile southeast of the airport. The airplanes empennage separated from the fuselage, and there was heavy damage to the right wing and fuselage.

It was a typical spring day in Minnesota, warm and clear at last, but with a brisk south wind blowing across the runway. I’d just driven 45 minutes to fly the Cub for the first time since November, and I thought that the wind was still within the plane’s capability. Once I broke ground and […]

At about 1705 Eastern time, the airplane touched down short of the intended runway. The commercial pilot sustained a minor injury; the pilot-rated passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.Abeam the runway threshold on downwind, the pilot lowered wing flaps to the first notch and moved the mixture control to full rich but did not turn on carburetor heat. While on final at 500 feet agl and 80 mph, the next thing he knew they were on the ground. He indicated the airplane descended due to a microburst, but there was no rain shower nearby. He also stated the passenger attempted to add full power, but was too late. He stated he did not stall the airplane.

During landing gear retraction tests, it was noted the nose wheel assembly would contact the right nose gear doors aft hinge during landing gear cycle. Also, the nose wheel assembly contacted the nose wheel well structure when fully retracted. Precision measurements determined the nose strut assembly-to-aircraft-structure attach points were misaligned.

More than 4400 comments were filed in response to the FAAs proposed rule for allowing small unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system, and the general aviation advocacy groups had their say. EAA, AOPA, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association all said the FAA should lower the ceiling for small UAS operations to 400 feet, instead of the proposed 500 feet, to provide a bigger buffer between UAS and manned aircraft. Other suggestions included requiring UAS to automatically terminate flight if communications are lost, and ensuring that the operators of manned aircraft arent required to add new equipment as a result of UAS integration. The FAA will now review the comments before publishing a final rule, which is expected to take up to 18 months.

It’s Saturday morning in small-town America, circa the early 1990s. My five younger siblings, flannel-clad in pastel jammies, are sprawled across the living room furniture watching Bugs Bunny gleefully thwart Elmer Fudd’s latest wabbit-hunting schemes. Mom is in the kitchen whipping up a batch of pancakes for her hungry brood. Dad and I are on […]

At Sun ‘n Fun Textron Aviation and an impressive list of university partners launched the Top Hawk program to pair up universities with quality flight training programs with new Skyhawks. Under Top Hawk, Textron will team with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Kansas State University, Liberty University and the University of North Dakota. Through the end of […]

The navigation light circuit breaker switch trips and will not reset. Fault in circuit breaker switch (p/n 35-380132-101). These switches are the new and improved versions installed under AD 2008-13-17, but are continuing to fail internally.