NTSB Safety Alert SA-021 - Is Your Aircraft Talking to You Listen!

Is Your Aircraft Talking to You? Listen!

Pay attention to signs of potential mechanical problems

The problem

 Some p ilots do not pa y adequate attention to indications of aircraft mechanical

problem s, which can lead to in-flight emergencies and accidents.

 Powerplant system or component failure is the third -most common defining event for

fatal accident s in the personal flying sector of general aviation (GA). Nonpowerplant

system or component failure also ranks high on the list.1

Related accidents

Sadly, the circumstances of each new accident are often remarkably similar to those of

previous accidents. This suggests that some pilots are not taking advantage of the lessons

learned from such tragedies that could help them avoid making the same mistakes . The

following accident summaries2 illustrate some common —and preventable —accident

scenarios related to inadequate attention to mechanical problems :

 A private pilot was killed after he lost control of his RV -6 experimental airplane while

maneuvering for an emergency landing following a loss of engine power in flight.

Before the accident flight, which was initially planned to be a maintenance diagnostic

flight in the v icinity of the departure airport, the pilot had a high -pressure oil line

repaired by a local weld shop. A lthough a mechanic who watched the airplane depart

on the accident flight saw white smoke trailing from the airplane and twice told the

pilot via radio to return to the airport , the pilot chose to fly the airplane to another

1 Each year, the NTSB investigates about 1,500 GA accidents in which about 475 people are killed . See the

NTSB data for Review of U.S. Civil Aviation Accidents, Calendar Year 2011 . The defining events information is

derived from the NTSB’s Review of U.S. Civil Aviation Accidents, 2007 -2009 . Both data sources are available

from the NTSB’s Aviation Statistics web page at

http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/data/Pages/aviation_stats.aspx .

2 The accident reports for each accident referenced in this safety alert are accessible by NTSB accident

number from the NTSB’s Aviation Accident Database & Synopses web page at

http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/data/Pages/aviation_stats.aspx . (The accident numbers are WPR09LA153 ,

ERA09FA093 , and SEA07FA 061, respectively.) Each accident’s public docket is accessible from the NTSB’s

Docket Management System web page at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/SitePages/dms.aspx .

SA-021 March 2013 , revised December 2015

airport. While the pilot was en route to the destination, the airplane’s engine lost

power because it was starv ed of oil due to leakage from the inadequately repaired oil

line.

 A commercial pilot was killed when his Beech 36 airplane struck a tree and then the

ground during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power in night

instrument meteorological conditions . The pilot, who bought the airplane months

before the accident, previously reported low oil pressure problems to a mechanic .

That mechanic told the pilot that it was important to have the problem checked

because it may indicate that something was not right with the recent engine overhaul .

Hours b efore the accident flight, the pilot told the fixed base operator (FBO) that

fueled the airplane that he was having “problems” with it and to put it in the hangar.

FBO personnel complied , but , about 30 minutes later, the pilot requested that the

airplane be pulled back onto the ramp. FBO personnel next saw the pilot try to start

the airplane without success before he walked back into the FBO facility and then

walked back out to the airplane. At some point , the pilot t elephoned a maintenance

facility but found that no one was available until the next morning. Rather than wait to

have the airplane checked, the pilot again attempted to start it, was successful, and

departed on the accident flight . The investigation determ ined that the airplane lost

engine power after the crankshaft fractured due to improper maintenance performed

during the recent overhaul.

 A private pilot was killed when his Cessna T210R airplane collided with the ground

and obstacles during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power during

takeoff. The pilot had experienced engine power loss events in the airplane at least

twice in the 18 months that preceded the accident. During one such event, the pilot

had passengers on board when the engine lost power during the takeoff roll . The pilot

had rejected th at takeoff and taxied the airplane back for another takeoff (with the

passengers still on board) , which was successful. According to a mechanic, the pilot

had attributed the previous power loss events to a cold engine or a too -rich mixture.

The accident investigation found that debris in the fuel manifold valve interrupted the

fuel flow .

What can pilots do?

 Resist the temptation to let external pressures , such as the desire to save ti me or

money , influence you to fly an aircraft that shows signs of a potential problem . Safety

should take precedence over all other considerations.

 Listen to what your air craft is telling you , and remember that shortcuts on the ground

can cost you dearly in flight. It is bett er to address a problem on the ground rather

than risk having to deal with an emergency in the air.

 Remember the purpose of a maintenance diagnostic flight and stick to the plan. Be

prepared for problems, and do not bring passengers.

SA-021 March 2013 , revised December 2015

 Understand that maintenance troubl eshooting sometimes takes time. Ensure that the

aircraft perform s correctly after maintenance. If any indication of a potential problem

persists , additional maintenance or a second opinion may be in order.

 Remember that, should an in -flight emergency occur, your ability to swiftly and

successfully execute your aircraft’s emergency procedures can mean the difference

between life and death. Seek flight and ground training to ensure that you are

prepared. During an actual emergency is not the time to find out that you are rusty on

procedures .

Interested in more information ?

Education and training are essential to improving GA safety. The Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) Safety Team (FAASTeam ) provides access to onlin e training courses ,

seminars , and webinars as part of the FAA’s “WINGS —Pilot Proficiency Program,” which

includes targeted flight training designed to help pilots develop the knowledge and skills

needed to achieve flight proficiency and to assess and mitig ate the risks associated with the

most common causes of accidents. The courses listed below and others (many of which

were developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association [AOPA] Air Safety Institute, a

division of AOPA Foundation ), as well as seminar and webinar information , can be

accessed from the FAASTeam website at www.faasafety.gov . (Course access requires login

through an existing or creation of a free FAASTeam account .)

 Engine and Propeller

 Aging Ai rcraft

 Pneumatic Systems

Other resources:

 The AOPA Air Safety Institute offers several interactive courses, presentations,

publications, and other safety resources that can be accessed from its website at

http://www.aopa.org/Pilot -Resources/Air -Safety -Institute . (Course access requires

creation of a free account) .

 Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083 -3A) contains information about dealing with

in-flight non-normal and emergency situations in chapter 16 . The handbook can be

accessed from the FAA’s website at www.faa.gov .

 Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083 -25A) discusses

aeronautical decision making and risk management in chapter 17 . It provides basic

tools (including the “IMSAFE” health evaluation, the “DECIDE” pr ocess for

aeronautical decision making, and other tools) to help pilots assess risk and m anage

it in a positive manner. The Risk Management Handbook (FAA-H-8083 -2) provides a

more in-depth discussion of risk management principles. Both handbooks can be

accessed from the FAA’s website at www.faa.gov.

 A Personal Minimums Checklist (based on the “PAVE” model) that you can pr int and

tailor to your skill level can be accessed from the FAA’s Guidance and Documents

website at www .faa.gov/training_testing/training/fits/guidance/ .

SA-021 March 2013 , revised December 2015

This NTSB safety alert and others can be accessed from the NTSB’s Safety Alerts web

page at http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety -alerts/Pages/default.aspx .