Flying SafetyNovember 3rd, 2015

1. NTSB Safety Alert … Control Locks2. Mishap Review3. Back when I was flying the line …4. NTSB Loss of Control Initiative5. The FAA is Evolving6. NASA Form and “Call this number” Reminder

Please send me a photo of YOU.

I want to include one each month…for the cadets. jimk@satx.rr.com

NTSB Safety Alert … SA-048 … Flight Control Locks

News Flash!Remove the Flight Control Locks before attempting flight.

Gee … how do we make sure that we comply with THIS?Well … Following the checklist ought to take care of it.

Especially the parts of the checklist that say:

“Control Lock … Remove”“Rudder Gust Lock … Remove”“Control Surfaces … Check”“Flight Controls … Free and Correct”

18 NTSB Aviation Mishaps in September 2015

6 pure bucket-head5 unexplained (ham-fist or bucket-head)3 engine quit (2 did good, 1 not so good)2 unexplained (mechanical failure)1 out of Fuel1 mechanical failure (explained)0 Ground Fatality 0 Hypoxia 0 gear collapse

Out of the 18 mishaps…9 were Fatal mishaps (22 fatalities total)

Out of the 9 fatal mishaps…4 of the mishap pilots held an advanced aeronautical rating1 ATP, 1 Instructor, 2 Commercial

Individual Mishap SummaryLancair Super ES ExperimentalPiper Cherokee 140Van’s RV-8 Experimental … 2 FatalVan’s RV-6 Experimental … 1 FatalPiper Warrior … 2 FatalCessna R172KPiper ArrowBeech V35B BonanzaCessna 310H… 4 FatalGrumman American AA-5 TravelerCessna 152Beech A36 Bonanza… 3 FatalBeech BaronCessna 150… 1 FatalDe Havilland Twin Otter (float equipped) … 3 FatalRans S-19 Venterra ExperimentalVan’s RV-10 Experimental … 5 Fatal (it’s a four seat airplane)Cessna U206E (float equipped) … 1 Fatal

NTSB Aviation Mishaps … Running Summary 2015 (including current month)

49 engine quit37 unexplained (ham-fist or bucket-head)20 pure bucket-head (just plain dumb)18 unexplained (mechanical failure)6 gear collapsed6 mechanical failure (explained)5 out of fuel2 Fatal Ground Mishap1 iced up1 Hypoxia

Back when I was flying the line …

Standardization and Evaluation (STANEVAL … A.K.A. the check-pilot shop) was actually evaluating the TRAINING PROGRAM.

If a pilot hooked a check ride, the first stop for the check-pilot after the debrief was at the training shop to look at the pilot’s training folder. The next stop was a visit to the pilot’s IP.

The Initial Assumption:If the pilot screwed up bad enough to bust the check ride, he obviously wasn’t trained well (or well enough).

Being an IP required a LOT of responsibility (and teaching ability).

The pilot still busts the check ride …But his deficiencies are fixed (probably by a different IP).

The goal is to have the best trained pilots in the world …NOT to see how many pilots you can wash out of flying.

To have the best pilots, you need to have the best Training Program … and the best IPs.

Fast forward to the year 2015.

The NTSB and the FAA “get it”.

NTSB recommends pilots “seek training”

If you always do what you’ve always done … you’ll always get what you’ve always got.

NTSB Loss of Control (LOC) Initiative

Loss Of Control, a safety issue that’s on the NTSB “Most Wanted List”

They have launched a “Learn to Turn” initiative“It’s clear that except for the ability to mimic only the most

basic of turns, pilots, as a group, remain unconsciously incompetent with regard to maneuvering flight.”

The status quo in General Aviation education is unacceptable.

“Simply stated, we have a training delivery problem.”

The flight training industry needs to change its culture to help reduce loss-of-control accidents.Developing … Stand by for news.

The FAA is Evolving

FAA Order 8000.373 effective June 26, 2015Mostly written for Commercial Operators … but it applies to Part 91 too.

“When deviations from regulatory standards do occur, the FAA’s goal is to use the most effective means to return an individual to full compliance and to prevent recurrence.”

Intentional or flagrant violations will still result in “enforcement”.

My interpretation of the new mindset:If you screw something up, they want to find out “why” and “how”.They will “re-train” you and use the “lesson learned” data to prevent future occurrence (other pilots).

The FAA is Evolving … Part II

FAA Policy Statement PS-ACE-23-08 effective immediatelyReplacing vacuum-driven attitude indicators with electronically-driven attitude indicators is now a minor alteration (in Part 23 airplanes weighing less that 6,000 lbs.)

The electronic equipment is MUCH more reliable (safer).So…let’s get the new equipment in the airplanes NOW.

Bottom Line:

It appears that the FAA is beginning to understand the concept of Flying Safety.

They are also beginning to realize that their Training Programs (requirements) are inadequate.

I am cautiously optimistic.Again, Developing … Stay tuned for news.

Michael P. Huerta … FAA Administrator

He ain’t a pilot … he’s a politician.

AOPA President praised Huerta’s Senate confirmation:“Huerta has a track record of listening to and working with the general aviation community.”

Sworn in January 2013Term expires the end of 2017

Let’s see what happens in the next two years…old paradigms are difficult to shift.

File your “NASA” form electronically:http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/report/electronic.html FAA Regulations prohibitreports filed with NASA from being used for FAA enforcement purposes. As long as your acts are not determined to be “intentional” (you followed the rules)Your identity will remain anonymous.File the NASA Report within 10 days of the incident You may file as many NASA Reports as you like…there is no limit.So….no matter how minor the incident…file a NASA Report

You may only use a NASA Report for immunity from FAA enforcement actions once every five years

Advise When Ready To Copy a Number:

Regarding ATC requests to "call a number" after landing.

In most cases, calling this number will not prevent the FAA from taking any planned action; generally it is a method to collect the pilot's name and certificate numbers for processing an alleged violation.

If you are asked to call a number after landing,

First … File your “NASA” form electronically:http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/report/electronic.html

Then … at your discretion, call the number requested by ATC

Questions?

Comments?

Concerns?

DID EVERYONE SIGN THE ROSTER?