Among
the Mis-sing
 Mis-understandings,
mis-interpretations, mis-communications all can lead to a variety of adverse
consequences. An ASRS report illustrates how a misunderstanding about
IFR clearances led to an unauthorized flight into IMC.
- Weather
conditions were 1200 feet overcast, 4 miles visibility in fog, with
tops at 3200 feet and visibilities 40+ miles on top. I was cleared for
a descent from 4500 feet for a VOR approach into XYZ, and told to maintain
VFR. The next Approach facility cleared me for the VOR approach. I flew
the approach as published, and at the final approach fix, Approach told
me to squawk VFR and switch to Advisory. I squawked 1200 even though
I was in IMC conditions at the time. About 4 miles from XYZ and in VMC,
I told Approach that I would like to cancel IFR and proceed VFR. At
that time they told me that I was never IFR.
A clearance for an approach
using a particular navaid does not qualify as an IFR clearance. The reporter
could have picked up on two clues first, the instruction to maintain VFR,
and second, the VFR squawk.
Yikes!
A mid-air collision is many
pilots' worst nightmare. In the following report, classified as an incident,
the pilots of both aircraft were very fortunate to have experienced a
mid-air with such minimal consequences. The pilot of a low-wing aircraft
had been informed of glider traffic at his airport of intended landing,
but did not have the traffic in sight. The pilot switched to UNICOM, reported
crossing overhead, and began his descent on crosswind.
- As I started
to turn onto downwind, I felt a bump...as if the wheels struck an object.
My wheel struck the glider's canopy, and my right wing grazed the glider's
right wing. Both aircraft landed with minor damage.
Both glider pilots were looking for me. I could not see the glider beneath
me turning onto downwind [at the same time I was]. I was not aware the
glider was in the pattern. A Tower would have averted this incident,
which was close to be ing a tragic accident.
Actually, adherence to recommended
safe operating procedures would have averted the incident. Descending
to the traffic pattern altitude outside the normal pattern decreases the
likelihood of descending onto another aircraft. In addition, the 45-degree
entry to the downwind leg is helpful in sighting other aircraft in the
pattern. In this incident, neither procedure was used.
Fowled
An instructor making a point
to his student about forced landings was reminded of another important
point that of thorough pre-flight preparation, including a careful review
of charts. The student, presented with a simulated engine failure, went
through all the right steps for selecting a landing site and securing
the aircraft in preparation for the landing, when...
- ...at approximately
100 feet AGL, we initiated a go-around. Upon application of power, many
birds took flight from the ground cover. No incident arose. However,
this prompted me to consult my sectional and terminal area charts, and
the location was verified as a National Wildlife Refuge. Always performing
low altitude maneuvers [in this area] caused complacency in verifying
compliance with airspace [regulations].
Flying daily in the Class B veil has taught me about airspace dimensions
and locations, and ATC compliance and com munication. Emphasis on these
aspects caused me to overlook the airspace not specifically regulated
by ATC or FAA regulations.
Instructors are faced with
a multitude of cockpit tasks, including setting a good example for the
student. After this incident, the instructor reviewed his error with the
student, and discussed the importance of interpreting chart symbology.
Fouled
Again
An instructor, highly experienced
but low-time in type, found that being misinformed about one mechanical
system led to several unpleasant surprises.
- Training
flight [at 2,000 feet MSL]. Slow flight. Dirty, then partial stall.
The left engine quit when throttles retarded. Hydraulic pump is on that
engine only. Therefore, flaps blew up but gear was stuck down. Barely
made it back to airport on one engine. Five [attempted] restarts were
un-"suck"-cessful. Plugs were later found fouled...
This instructor also displayed
questionable judgment in practicing stalls at 2,000 feet. A higher altitude
is usually recommended and would have provided a safety buffer for stall
training and practice of emergency procedures.
FAA Wake Turbulence Study
Keep Those Reports
Coming!
Earlier this year, ASRS and
other aviation industry organizations jointly publicized a special FAA-funded
study on wake turbulence. The study, which is being conducted by ASRS
analyst and research staff, uses detailed telephone surveys to gather
information on wake turbulence encounters reported to the ASRS. The FAA's
purpose in supporting the study is to reduce the frequency and danger
of wake turbulence events.
In response to announcements in CALLBACK and other industry publications,
the ASRS has already received more than 58 reports of wake turbulence
encounters. To date, forty-seven telephone interviews (structured callbacks)
have been completed with reporting pilots.
Reports Needed Through 1995. In spite of this strong response,
ASRS is seeking additional wake turbulence reports from the pilot community
through the end of 1995. Both air carrier and general aviation pilots
are encouraged to con tinue reporting their wake turbulence encounters
to ASRS. Here are some additional facts about the ASRS wake turbulence
study:
- ASRS is
seeking pilot reports of recent wake turbulence encounters--those that
have occurred within the last six months.
- Reporter
participation is voluntary, and all personally identifying information
(names, company affiliations, etc.) will be removed before the data
are given to the FAA. Only aircraft make/model information will be retained
in the ASRS data.
- ASRS will
contact you for an interview appointment in one of two ways: by a telephone
call to the phone number given on your reporting form ID strip, or by
letter to the address on your ID strip (if you give no phone number).
- The interview
itself will take approximately 45 minutes. If there are any questions
you prefer not to answer for any reason, the interviewer will go on
to the next question.
- You will
receive your report ID strip back--with no record of your identity retained
by ASRS--as soon as the interview is complete.
The collection of wake turbulence
incident data by the ASRS is the first phase of an extended FAA effort
to track and monitor wake turbulence incidents. Your report counts, so
don't forget to tell your story to ASRS! Reporting forms are available
on request from NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System, P. O. Box 189,
Moffett Field, CA, 94035-0189.
Rude Awakening
In connection with the FAA
wake turbulence study described on this page, our readers might find several
ASRS reports of special interest. The first overturns the idea that only
large aircraft produce dangerous wake vortices. As this pilot of a Cessna
185 discovered, small airplanes can also produce dangerous wakes:
- We took
off as the third airplane in a flight of three. The first airplane was
loaded to about 2,500 pounds. The second airplane was near gross weight
of 3,350 pounds, and my airplane was third, weighing about 2,700 pounds.
Take off was normal, breaking ground in about 1,000 feet. We began to
climb at between 85-90 mph and reached an altitude of about 65 feet
when the right wing dropped violently and the nose dropped, making the
airplane turn 90 degrees to the right. I used full left rudder and aileron
and up elevator to counteract the forces on the aircraft. We landed
about 200 feet from the runway, shearing both landing gear. Wake turbulence
caused this to happen.
I have always been taught to associate wake turbulence only with large
aircraft, but the danger is very real when following heavily loaded
single-engine aircraft. GA pilots need to know that wake turbulence
can be present no matter what size aircraft they are following.
B-757 Upset
The Boeing 757 has been much
in the news as a generator of dangerous wake vortices. Yet it is subject
to wake turbulence upsets just like other aircraft, as reported by this
Captain:
- I was flying
a B-757 on an approach to Runway 22L. The wind at the time was reported
at 190/10. We had been following a B-727 by only approximately 2-1/2
miles as measured by TCAS II. This did not seem to be a problem as we
did not feel any unusual turbulence during the approach. The B-727 landed
and turned off the runway.
At approximately 50 feet AGL (on speed and glideslope) the aircraft
suddenly began a hard, rapid roll to the left. I tried to counteract
with right aileron input, but it took almost full right aileron to stop
the roll... After a slight hesitation, the aircraft began to respond
and roll back toward the right. I started to release the right aileron
input... However, as soon as the right aileron pressure was eased...another
rapid left roll began. I...reached full right aileron input just prior
to left wheels ground contact. As the left wheels hit the ground, a
rapid roll to the right began and the left wing attempted to lift from
the ground. I pushed the nose forward in an attempt to get, and keep,
both wheel trucks on the ground. This action worked and the nose wheel
was lowered normally... Rollout was uneventful. I can think of no phenomena
that could have caused this event except possibly the vortices from
the B-727 that landed just ahead of us.
ASRS Recently Issued Alerts
On...
- Reported procedural problems
with an ILS approach
- Allegedly defective cockpit
seat latches on the B-737-500
- Illegal Extended Range (ETOPS)
routing of a jet by ATC
- Multiple electrical system
malfunctions on a DC-10-10
- Runaway rudder trim during
takeoff of an Airbus 300-600R
May 1995 Report Intake
- Air Carrier Pilots--1994
- General Aviation Pilots--819
- Controllers--90
- Cabin/Mechanics/Military/Other--44
- TOTAL--2947
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