CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 16
ASI Message
Flaps Lapse
By BRUcE lAnDSBERg
Recently, another flap accident involved a C-150
that resulted in the loss of a 20-year-old student and
his 33-year-old instructor. The 3,700-foot sea-level
runway-with an estimated 500 yards of overrun before
encountering more than 50-foot trees-had a density
altitude of perhaps 2,000 msl in summer temperatures.
Witnesses saw the 150 take off with full flaps and barely
get airborne in ground effect: The flaps were retracted
and the aircraft climbed slightly, appeared to be out of ground effect, and
wobbled before nosing straight in. The instructor had mentioned to one
of the witnesses that he had been up much of the night with a sick child,
raising the issue of potential fatigue.
In my view, this was not a long chain of judgment errors but rather
a lapse-where one omits or commits just one action that triggers the
event. Some thoughts for your consideration:
1. Leave the flaps up on preflight. You'll find out soon enough if they
work-either on takeoff or landing-before getting to a critical situation.
2. If you insist on checking flaps during preflight, set them no lower
than to the max lift setting. That way, if forgotten before takeoff it won't
be a disaster.
3. If your aircraft system allows, lower the flaps,
turn off the master switch, and position the flap
switch to UP, so the flaps will automatically retract
when the master is turned on for engine start.
4. Fatigue, illness, or medication increases our ability
to lapse. That leads to the judgment issue preceding
the lapse of whether the flight is a good idea. I've
seen more than a few aircraft taxi out with flaps
still down: one lapse away from a major problem?
So far this year, there have been six fatalities
due to a procedure that was designed to prevent
them. The law of unintended consequences applies
here. It's better to avoid putting yourself into a bad
situation than to always avoid the small but deadly
lapse. That's called risk management.
Your thoughts? Safe Flights...
Bruce Landsberg
Senior Safety Advisor, Air Safety Institute
A core tenet of the AOPA
Foundation's Air Safety Institute
is to help pilots improve their skills
and enhance GA safety through
free educational programs. AOPA
membership dues don't cover these
programs-donations do, but only six
percent of AOPA members actually
donate to the Foundation. Whether
you're a member or a friend of GA,
please consider contributing today
(aopafoundation.org/donate) to
support the institute's important
work. Imagine if GA operated on
only six percent...airsafetyinstitute.
org/PSA-sixpercent.
http://www.aopafoundation.org/donate
http://youtu.be/R-ep93I7LHw
http://youtu.be/R-ep93I7LHw
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Vol. 5, Issue 3
The Safest Course? Examining Accidents During Advanced Instruction
Safety Seminar: Real World Weather
CFI Tips: Avoiding VFR into IMC - A Strategy
ASI Message: Flaps Lapse
Accident Case Study: VFR into IMC Equals Dead-End Proposition
Safety Spotlight: The Virtue of Adversity
ASI Online: Datalink Weather: From Concept to Cockpit
Safety Quiz: Cross Country Flight to Festus
CFI Tools: ASI Download Portal
Chief's Corner: Letting Go
Pilot Safety Announcement: 178 Seconds to Live
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Vol. 5, Issue 3
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 2
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - The Safest Course? Examining Accidents During Advanced Instruction
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 4
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 5
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 6
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 7
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 8
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 9
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - Safety Seminar: Real World Weather
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 11
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - CFI Tips: Avoiding VFR into IMC - A Strategy
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 13
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 14
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 15
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - ASI Message: Flaps Lapse
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 17
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - Accident Case Study: VFR into IMC Equals Dead-End Proposition
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 19
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - Safety Spotlight: The Virtue of Adversity
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 21
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 22
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 23
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - ASI Online: Datalink Weather: From Concept to Cockpit
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 25
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - Safety Quiz: Cross Country Flight to Festus
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 27
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - CFI Tools: ASI Download Portal
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - Chief's Corner: Letting Go
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 30
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 31
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 32
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - 33
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 3 - Pilot Safety Announcement: 178 Seconds to Live
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