Your ELT is going off, or is it?

[cnoe]

Funny, or not funny; this happened to me a few days ago.

 

I was installing a new nose-gear tire and tube at my t-hangar one afternoon and had pulled off the cowl for a quick look-see inside. About this time a C172 comes idling by with a couple of guys looking around oddly. Their plane made a 180 at the end of the hangar row and came back by, this time stopping in front of my hangar. With the engine still running the right-seat occupant got out and walked into my open hangar and introduced himself. A bit befuddled I offered my name as well and asked him how I may be of assistance.

 

The gentleman said he was a CFII instructor on the field and that my "ELT is going off". Really? Oh crap; that's not good! I quickly leaned into my plane and verified that my manual switch was in the "armed" position, but was not "on". And the LED wasn't illuminated. So I hit the master and avionics switches and set Comm 2 to 121.5. Grabbing my headset off the seat I immediately heard the unmistakable sound of an ELT transmission.

 

I couldn't believe this was happening but thanked the man and told him I was gonna figure out what was going on right away. He got back in the plane with his student and off they went. I imagined that this faux pas was the new topic of instruction for this instructor and student as they taxied away.

 

About the time they left a hangar buddy and fellow pilot asked about the commotion and I told him that my ELT was "possibly" going off and that I was just starting to troubleshoot the problem. He pulled out a handheld radio, set it 121.5 and listened as it wailed away.

 

Now I have a fairly new Artex 406 ELT which broadcasts both on 121.5 and 406. The battery was replaced only 7 months ago. Being very familiar with the unit's installation I quickly pulled the access panel (where the battery resides) and unfastened the ELT from its mount. The toggle switch was not "on" there either and the LED was also not "on". So I disconnected the antenna and sub-D connector then removed the unit from the plane. My buddy's radio was still wailing.

 

I thought "how could he still be receiving the signal with no antenna" so I decided to stick the unit in my metal tool box to block the signal. Even then my buddy's radio wailed. Holding the radio behind the metal hangar door didn't stop it either.

 

I was beginning to think that "I" wasn't the culprit, but to be CERTAIN I went ahead and opened up the ELT and REMOVED THE BATTERY. While my buddy's radio continued to wail I was finally relieved and convinced that my plane was not to blame.

 

About 45 minutes later I'd zipped everything back up and was headed down the taxiway to fly out when the CFII radioed me while doing touch-and-goes. I was a bit miffed that he'd wasted 30 minutes of my time, and had me in a bit of a frenzy. But I bit my lip and told him thanks for letting me know about the ELT, but that the problem wasn't mine. He apologized and said that the signal seemed strongest in front of my hangar.

 

But as I departed the area the 121.5 signal quickly faded then died completely. Whew!

 

What would YOU have done?

 

C.

[Piloto]

I had the same experience three times. I used my handheld VHF to verify it was not my ELT. With the antenna removed from the handheld I got no signal, so it mean it was not mine. Multiple ELTs can get activated when a tornado hits the airport. 

 

José

[Dave Marten]

Begin foot-stomping rant:

If an ELT is going off on your field do us all a favor and report it! Airport manager, airport security, ATC, or call Flight Service. Provide the most complete info you can.

You wouldn't ignore a fire alarm, so don't ignore an ELT!

Airborne - let's watch each other's back up there. Monitor 121.5 on your spare radio and if you hear an ELT report it to ATC. You just may help save a fellow pilot's ass someday.

Flying away with an "oh well it's not me" attitude is not enhancing safety.

- End rant.

[Super Dave]

Using a handheld to locate an ELT on the ground can be difficult because the radio is so sensitive that the ELT can be heard from almost anywhere on the airport property. To make the handheld more discerning, you can make it less sensitive by tuning it up or down a half step (121.45 or 121.55) or even a full step or more. 

[Raptor05121]

What does an ELT sound like?

[ryoder]

The ELT repeats "ELT... Phone home..." over and over...

[Marauder]

Interesting topic considering my afternoon. I was listening to ATCLive for one of the NY Centers funneling traffic into Philly and was listening to a number of airliners report to Center that they were hearing an alert on guard channel. They were reporting it directly over an airport they were overflying.

Something was going on in the area since they were stacking airliners over Buntz intersection even though it looked like Philly weather was VFR.

[Jim Peace]

 

If you thought it may be your 406 ELT, could you not just call the SAR phone number on the site you registered with and ask them if its yours without having to go through all the trouble to dismantle your unit?

[N201MKTurbo]

About 20 years ago I was working on my plane late at night in the crop duster hanger. A couple of guys from the CAP came by and said that an ELT was on in the paint shop across the ramp and asked if I could contact the owner of the paint shop. We had a key to the paint shop so I went over there found the ELT and turned it off. When I got back the CAP guys were mad as hell! They said I had no authority to turn off the ELT. I said "fine, I'll Go turn it back on" they said that that would be illegal. They threatened to call the police and have me arrested for trespassing. I told them to go ahead, I knew the paint shop owner would not press charges.

I guess they wanted to get the owner in trouble or something, didn't make any sense to me.

[cnoe]

Begin foot-stomping rant:

If an ELT is going off on your field do us all a favor and report it! Airport manager, airport security, ATC, or call Flight Service. Provide the most complete info you can.

You wouldn't ignore a fire alarm, so don't ignore an ELT!

Airborne - let's watch each other's back up there. Monitor 121.5 on your spare radio and if you hear an ELT report it to ATC. You just may help save a fellow pilot's ass someday.

Flying away with an "oh well it's not me" attitude is not enhancing safety.

- End rant.

Good point Dave, and it didn't sound like a rant at all. I appreciate the input.

In my defense I did hike down to the airport manager's office/FBO but they were closed and locked up tight. Plus I did inform the resident CFII that the broadcast persisted as I departed. It was pretty obvious as I circled the area while departing that the signal was emanating from the airport.

Monitoring 121.5 while enroute is something I often do and I'd absolutely inform ATC if I heard a distress broadcast. But for some reason I never considered it important on the airport grounds. I guess some poor soul could have activated it on purpose to summon medical help or similar. That's somrthing to consider.

C.

[cnoe]

If you thought it may be your 406 ELT, could you not just call the SAR phone number on the site you registered with and ask them if its yours without having to go through all the trouble to dismantle your unit?

Not a bad idea. I think I have a copy of the registration in the POH.

C.

[cnoe]

What does an ELT sound like?

If yours is not a 406 unit you can test it and hear the alarm for yourself; it's an unmistakable sweeping-tone sound.

From the AIM:

(a) Analog 121.5/243 MHz ELTs should only be tested during the first 5 minutes after any hour. If operational tests must be made outside of this period, they should be coordinated with the nearest FAA Control Tower or FSS. Tests should be no longer than three audible sweeps. If the antenna is removable, a dummy load should be substituted during test procedures.

( Digital 406 MHz ELTs should only be tested in accordance with the unit's manufacturer's instructions.

© Airborne tests are not authorized.

C.

[1964-M20E]

Many years ago in my previous flying career I was flying home form a CAP SAR exercise in a rented C152.  About 10 miles form home I heard an ELT in my headset and I was not on 121.5  I switched to 121.5 and sure enough it was there.  I radioed the nearest control tower let them know my position.  I did a couple of 360s and noticed that I was flying over a tug boat I figured it most likely was the culprit.

 

I don’t monitor 121.5 continuously but I do switch over several times during a ling flight and have occasionally picked up an ELT and notified ATC.

 

The ELT is a siren type sound starting at a high pitch and winding down.  Peeerrrrlllll  peeerrrllll

[DrBill]

In 2013 I had my plane in the avionics shop for install of the JPI 450.  I get a call from the Air Force, a guy in Texas says my 406 ELT was going off. I told him my plane was in the avionics shop and I'd call but it being 6pm they are probably gone.  He gave me a number to call back. I called the shop and wow, the owner answered.  I told him of the call, he went to the hangar and sure enough somehow it was set off.  He reset it and I called the Air Force guy back.  All was well. At least I know it works.

[philiplane]

The current penalty for a false 406 ELT activation is $5000.

 

So if you hear an ELT on the radio, you really want to be sure it's not yours. But then again, when the 406 ELT's go off, it broadcasts your N number so it's impossible to wiggle out of it.

[Will W]

While I'm at FSS, I get calls from the AF saying to look at specific airports for an ELT going off.  Sometimes they have exact tail numbers which come from the new 406 frequency.  If someone comes up to you and says that FSS called and told them that you're tail number's ELT is going off, it really is you.

[RobertGary1]

Join cap and they'll teach you how you could have isolated the source with your handheld radio. A few simple techniques and you'll be a pro. They hide practice beacons around the airport and the kids find them in dumpsters, behind old parts in hangers etc. it's a fun game.