NTSB Safety Alert SA-071 - Do Your Takeoff Homework

SAFETY

ALERT 071 September 2017

HIGHWAY

MARINE

RAILROAD

PIPELINE

AVIATION

Do Your Takeoff Homework;

Runway Length Matters

Under standing the Potential Hazards of

Intersection Takeoffs

The problem

Typically used to save time, intersection takeoffs are a common practice in aviation, especially in

general aviation operations. However, pilots may not fully understand the potential risks associated

with conducting intersection takeoffs.

If an aircraft experiences a problem while conducting an intersection takeoff, the available runway

remaining to abort the takeoff or perform an emergency landing is reduced or eliminated, resulting in

greater risk of injury or aircraft damage.

Related accidents

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has investigated several accidents involving pilots

who were conducting intersection takeoffs, including the following:

Instead of using the full runway length of 6,179 ft for

takeoff, the pilot of a Monnett Sonex experimental am-

ateur-built airplane chose to conduct an intersection takeoff with about 2,570 ft of available runway. Short-ly after takeoff, the airplane lost engine power and impacted parked vehicles near the departure end of the runway during the pilot’s attempt to turn back for an emergency landing (figure 1 shows the airplane’s takeoff and flightpath). Had the pilot used the entire runway for takeoff, there likely would have been suffi -

cient available runway remaining to land the airplane following the loss of engine power. ( CEN15FA249 )

Figure 1 . Map showing Monnett Sonex airplane’s flightpath

2 / NTSB Safety Alert 071 / September 2017 A sport pilot of a Luscombe 8A and his flight

instructor initiated takeoff from a runway intersection,

eliminating nearly 700 ft of usable runway. About 100 ft above the runway, the engine lost partial power. With insufficient runway remaining on which to land and obstacles at the end of the runway that made a straight-ahead, off-airport landing hazardous, the flight instructor attempted to maneuver toward the ramp area adjacent to the runway. The airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall, impacted the runway in a nose-down attitude, and came to rest inverted (figure 2 shows the main wreckage). In addition, the airplane was 68 pounds over its maximum gross weight and density altitude was over 2,000 ft, which affected the airplane’s performance. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries and the sport pilot sustained fatal injuries. ( ERA12FA491 )

F or schedule expedience, the pilot of a

Piper PA-32 airplane, operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135

flight, chose to conduct an intersection takeoff using 5,550 ft of an 8,700-ft-long runway (figure 3 shows an overview of the runway environment). After takeoff, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power. The airplane stalled at a low altitude during the pilot’s attempt to return to the runway and impacted airport property. One passenger died, five sustained serious injuries, and one person sustained minor injuries. Based on the accident flightpath, the additional 3,150 ft of runway likely would have been sufficient to enable a straight-ahead landing on the runway after the power loss rather than a turnback. (WPR13LA045 )

Figure 2. Main wreckage of Luscombe 8A

Figure 3. Runway overview

NTSB Safety Alert 071 / September 2017 / 3What can you do?

Allow adequate time for preflight preparations and taxiing to

eliminate time pressure to conduct an intersection takeoff.

Do your homework. Know your aircraft’s takeoff and landing

performance limitations based on gross weight, density altitude,

and other considerations in the event of a malfunction that would

require an aborted takeoff or emergency landing.

Communicate the plan. Ensure your pretakeoff briefing to yourself

and/or your crew addresses potential emergency situations.

If you do perform an intersection takeoff, clearly communicate

your intention to conduct an intersection takeoff, your position,

and planned departure, via local air traffic control procedures to

alert potential conflicting traffic.

Do not feel obligated to accept an intersection takeoff if it is

offered to you by air traffic control.

For most takeoffs, use all available runway length to increase

your margin of safety. Recognize that using anything less than

the full length of the runway is accepting a higher level of risk.

In the event you need to return to the airport or runway, remember

that an aerodynamic stall can occur at any airspeed, at any

attitude, and with any engine power setting.

4 / NTSB Safety Alert 071 / September 2017Interested in more information?

The FAA’s “ Airplane Flying Handbook” (FAH-H-8083-3B), chapter 5, “ Takeoffs and Departure Climbs ,” provides

guidance regarding proper takeoff procedures. Takeoffs may seem simple but often present the most hazards of

any phase of flight.

The FAA’s “ Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge ” (FAA-H-8083-25B), chapter 2, “ Aeronautical Decision-

Making, ” provides pilots a systematic approach to determine the best course of action in response to a given set

of circumstances.

An article in the July 2004 issue of Flight Training Magazine , an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association publication,

discusses the importance of alerting potentially conflicting traffic of the intent to conduct an intersection takeoff.

NTSB report AAR-08/03/SUM discusses a 2006 fatal accident in which a de Havilland DHC-6-100 being operated

as a local parachute operation flight lost power in the right engine shortly after an intersection takeoff.

A companion video to this safety alert can be accessed from the Aviation Safety Alerts link.

The reports for the accidents referenced in this safety alert are accessible by NTSB accident number from the Aviation Accident Database link, and each accident’s public docket is accessible from the Accident Dockets link

for the Docket Management System. Safety Alert Prevent Aerodynamic Stalls at Low Altitude (SA-019) can be

accessed from the Aviation Safety Alerts link.

The NTSB’s Aviation Information Resources web page, www.ntsb.gov/air ,

provides convenient access to NTSB aviation safety products. This Safety

Alert and others can be accessed from the Aviation Safety Alerts link at

www.ntsb.gov .

The NTSB is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportation—highway, marine, railroad, and pipeline. The NTSB determines the probable cause of the accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. For more information, visit www.ntsb.gov.www.twitter.com/ntsb

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