Weak Links

Not a flight goes by when I don’t think about the potential for a landing-gear problem. It’s not that I’m a pessimist and think something is bound to happen—I don’t—but the moment you fly a complex aircraft, you’ve multiplied the number of things that can go wrong. I bristle when someone trots out the old “there are those who have and those who will” maxim about gear-up landings. It’s just not that simple.

Key Takeaways:

• The article recounts a pilot's harrowing experience with a landing gear malfunction that resulted in a runway excursion and a twisted main gear upon landing.
• The pilot attributes contributing factors to personal complacency, including rushing due to a busy schedule, insufficient focus during pre-flight, and divided attention during critical flight phases like gear retraction.
• Ultimately, despite a mechanical failure (a sheared bolt), the author concluded that their own actions and state of mind represented the "weakest link," underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance and self-awareness in aviation.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.