Flight Safety Detectives

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Experienced Test Pilot Doomed by Severe Weather- Episode 151 Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

Even highly experienced pilots can be overcome by severe weather. Todd Curtis and John Goglia discuss the fatal crash that took the life of famed test pilot Scott Crossfield. A thunderstorm boxed him in, leading to loss of control of his Cessna 210A.

John and Todd examine the weather information available to the pilot and to air traffic controllers. Failure to pay attention and communicate about the weather played a key factor in this air crash.

Crossfield was a famous test pilot with more than 11,000 flight hours. He was the first person to break Mach 2 in an airplane.

John and Todd discuss the need to reconsider flying when severe weather is predicted. They note that planes of all sizes can be affected, and a flight delay is often the safer alternative.

Related documents at the Flight safety Detectives website:

NTSB ACCIDENT REPORT
ADVISORY CIRCULARS:
- FAA AC 00-24B
- FAA AC 00-24C

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All music used by permission: Upbeat Inspiration by Paul Werner licensed by Jamendo Licensing and Upbeat Technology Corporate by Forest Music licensed by Jamendo Licensing.

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Flight Instructors Can Be Dead Wrong - Episode 150 Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

A pilot in training paid with her life when a flight instructor chose a poor location to practice engine failure maneuvers. John and Todd review the evidence collected following the air crash in California to offer flight safety advice.

Being a pilot is not easy. Pay attention to everything. Anticipate what could go wrong and have a plan.

In the 2017 accident reviewed in this episode, a flight instructor chose a mountainous area to teach simulated engine failures. Two students were aboard, one actively participating in the lesson and a second observing.

The poor choice of location created a real issue that led to a crash into the terrain. While the aircraft was largely intact, the rear passenger was killed.

John and Todd talk about the decisions that led to this air crash. It’s not easy, but students should always be willing to fire their CFI or flight school when they encounter unsafe practices.

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Spatial Disorientation Kills – Episode 149 Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Spatial disorientation can happen to any pilot. It led to the fatal crashes that killed John F Kennedy Jr and Kobe Bryant. John, Greg and Todd are joined by expert Andy Watson to talk about ways pilots can avoid a deadly air crash.

Andy Watson is a professional air traffic controller, pilot, and author of the book, The Pilot’s Guide to Air Traffic Control. He describes the FAA accident briefing that led him to research spatial disorientation and develop practical recommendations to help avoid it.

Spatial disorientation can happen when a pilot is in IFR conditions, banking left or right, and moving their head. This phenomenon is especially challenging for single pilots. Spatial disorientation is the contributing factor in many air crashes.

Hear practical advice for all pilots. The discussion covers how to avoid spatial disorientation and how to work with air traffic control to get help when needed. Learn why the responses “standby” or “unable” are acceptable and could save your life.

Related documents at the Flight Safety Detectives website:

FAA Spatial Disorientation brochure (PDF)
2017 Pilatus PC12 accident report (PDF)
Public Docket for the Pilatus PC12 accident

All music used by permission: Upbeat Inspiration by Paul Werner licensed by Jamendo Licensing and Upbeat Technology Corporate by Forest Music licensed by Jamendo Licensing.

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Troy Gentry Crash Caused by Maintenance Error – Episode 148 Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

The helicopter crash that killed musician Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry was primarily caused by improper maintenance. The Flight Safety Detectives share why they find fault with the NTSB assigning the primary cause to the pilot.

“It is clear that the basic cause of this accident occurred in the hangar,” says John Goglia.

John and Todd review the information in the NTSB report. They applaud the excellent work done by the NTSB lab that showed how improper installation of engine tie rod nuts led to engine failure of the Schweizer 269C.

While there are pages of analysis of the pilot and his actions in the NTSB final report, the clear maintenance deficiencies are covered minimally. The mechanic did not follow the manual or specifications.

While at the NTSB, John pushed for more investment in exploring human factors in the maintenance hangar. This accident shows a continued lack of commitment to defining corrective actions for maintenance personnel.

Related documents on the Flight safety Detectives website:

NTSB final report
Public Docket

All music used by permission: Upbeat Inspiration by Paul Werner licensed by Jamendo Licensing and Upbeat Technology Corporate by Forest Music licensed by Jamendo Licensing.

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Aviation Skills Save Harrison Ford – Episode 147 Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

Rapid decision making and impressive aviator skills saved Harrison Ford from a deadly result in a 2015 air crash. The Flight Safety Detectives review the facts that show that Ford had a clear plan and was decisive as he dealt with engine failure shortly after takeoff in his vintage plane.

Ford quickly determined that returning to the Santa Monica airport would not work. He landed on a golf course. The hard impact caused him serious injury but no one on the ground was hurt.

“Harrison Ford did everything right. He was mentally prepared and was able to put the aircraft down safely,” Greg Feith says.

The NTSB report shows clear evidence of Ford’s training and aviation skill. It also documents a defect with the engine carburetor that led to the loss of engine power.

Do antique planes still in use need more detailed maintenance procedures for continued airworthiness? The detectives suggest this might be one way to compensate for older maintenance manuals that are brief and incomplete.

Listen for aviation safety takeaways for pilots and aircraft mechanics from this Harrison Ford accident.

Related documents at the Flight safety Detectives website

Public Docket
NTSB airframe and engine examination
Director of operations statement
NTSB final report
NTSB factual report

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Peter Tomarken Air Crash Was Survivable Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Episode 146

A pilot lost engine power in his single engine plane shortly after takeoff. He did a controlled ditch into the Pacific. The plane is largely intact, yet the pilot and his passenger die. The Flight Safety Detectives dig into the NTSB final report of the Peter Tomarken air crash to look at how this event could have been survived.

TV personality Peter Tomarken and his wife Kathleen were killed when his Beechcraft Bonanza A36 crashed a few hundred feet offshore in Santa Monica Bay in March 2006. The aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff. Eyewitness statements indicate he was able to perform a controlled ditch into the bay.

Greg, John and Todd look into the NTSB finding of a missing engine cotter pin. The report lacks details about when this may have happened, recent maintenance procedures followed or inspection processes used. These are essential to help maintenance personnel learn from this event.

The docket includes medical findings of blunt force trauma to the victims and drugs found in the pilot’s system. The effect of the drugs on the pilot’s decision-making is not clear. The role that shoulder harnesses and/or helmets could have played in protecting the people onboard is also omitted.

Hear why the Flight Safety Detectives recommend that all older aircraft have shoulder harnesses mounted to the airframe and why every small craft pilot should wear a helmet.

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Aviation Safety & Animals – Episode 145 Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

More than 53 dogs being transported from New Orleans to Milwaukee had a bumpy ride when their cargo flight crashed on a golf course. This is a good news story with just a few minor injuries. John and Todd take the opportunity to put the focus on aviation safety for animals.

Animals are transported by air for a variety of reasons. There are some regulations to ensure their safety. However, Greg and Todd advise that anyone considering air transport for an animal do careful research and purchase a suitable travel carrier.

This crash involved a Fairchild Metroliner. The crash sheared off the wings and dumped a lot of jet fuel. Fortunately, there was no fire. Quick action by first responders recovered all the dogs and even led to a few adoptions!

Episode bonus: Meet Todd’s rescue pup Gidget!

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See & Avoid - Episode 144 Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

"See and Avoid" is widely recognized as a method for avoiding collision. This accident shows that approach has limits.

The term "See and Avoid" is part of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulation 14 CFR Part 91.113 (b), calling for pilots to actively search for potentially conflicting traffic. John and Todd discuss a 2014 accident where two planes crashed because they were not able to see one another in time.

The accident involved a Cessna 172 and a Searey homebuilt participating in a Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program. The Cessna was overtaking the Searey as it descended and the two collided. Two people in the Searey were able to land. The Cessna crashed and the passenger and student onboard died.

The NTSB probable cause cited failure to “see and avoid.” The Flight Safety Detectives explore the importance and limitations of relying on being able to see everything from the cockpit. They discuss how better preplanning by the two pilots involved could have avoided the collision.

Related documents at the Flight Safety Detectives website:

NTSB Final Report (PDF)

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Mooney Accident in Maryland - Episode 143 Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

Did get-there-itis and lack of preflight planning lead to the crash of a Mooney M20J into a power line tower in Montgomery County, Maryland on November 27? The Flight Safety Detectives think so.

The aircraft had taken off from Westchester County, New York, and was bound for the Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg. Around 5:40 PM, for reasons still under investigation, it crashed about a few miles away from the runway. The crash was close to home for Greg, who lives just four miles from the site.

John, Greg and Todd talk about the investigation ahead for the FAA and NTSB. They explore key questions:

Did the pilot do proper preflight planning?
Was the pilot monitoring the weather and taking appropriate action as it developed or was he trying to tuck under the weather?
Was the pilot following proper procedures for the approach?
What is this pilot’s history?

This event appears to be a perfect example of the need for preflight planning. The weather forecast called for rain and low visibility. The pilot should have planned alternatives if it was not safe to land at the Gaithersburg airport.

Related documents at the Flight Safety Detectives website:

Related accident from 1992 (PDF)

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Recent Air Crash Leads to Urgent Aviation Safety Recommendation Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

Episode 142

The NTSB has issued an urgent aviation safety recommendation for all operators of DHC-3 Otters to conduct an immediate one-time inspection of the horizontal stabilizer actuator lock ring. This is the result of the NTSB’s initial findings in the ongoing investigation of the Sept. 4, 2022, crash of a De Havilland Canada DHC-3 in Mutiny Bay, Washington.

Wreckage recovered from this accident reveals evidence related to the horizontal stabilizer actuator. The actuator has two parts that were screwed together and secured with a circular wire lock ring. It appears the lock ring was not seated properly. The two barrel sections unscrewed, leading to a loss of pitch trim control and the loss of the aircraft.

John and Todd explore the ways that components are kept from coming loose in airplanes, including the lock ring that is the subject of this safety recommendation. Get their insider view of the preliminary findings, possible causes of this crash, and probable next steps in the NTSB investigation.

They also talk about the implications for anyone involves in this crash that resulted in loss of life. No one wants to make a mistake, especially one that causes a crash.

Related documents at the Flight Safety Detectives website:

NTSB Preliminary Report
NTSB Investigative update
NTSB Safety Recommendation
Press release about the inspection recommendation
NTSB investigation page

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