What would you do?

[sleepingsquirrel]

I heard of a pilot known to tie his airplanes down with tire casings, forget one tied to the tail . Took off realizing something was not right but broke ground .This strip is one of those where you are committed shortly after opening the throttle. He told me how scared he was when he  looked back and saw that tire casing trailing behind his 172 . Said he made the slowest , most gentle turn. Had no trouble getting the thing down with exceptional short field performance. Very little ground run. There was no need to explain just how stupid that trick was, he already knew.

He has passed away , and I learned many good things from this man, he was a great, grass roots pilot.

[bd32322]

Quote: Cris

If you feel compelled to bring this to the pilots attention when I teach, I like to use a "story" to make the point in a non offensive way. Consider the next time you see this guy you say. "Hey the other day I saw you hop out of your plane to get your headset while the engine was running. Did'nt think anything of it at the time but coincidently I just read about a guy that did that exact same thing & the A/C moved while he was out of it & ran into .... Hope you did'nt rush on my account" 

[bd32322]

Quote: sleepingsquirrel

I heard of a pilot known to tie his airplanes down with tire casings, forget one tied to the tail . Took off realizing something was not right but broke ground .This strip is one of those where you are committed shortly after opening the throttle. He told me how scared he was when he  looked back and saw that tire casing trailing behind his 172 . Said he made the slowest , most gentle turn. Had no trouble getting the thing down with exceptional short field performance. Very little ground run. There was no need to explain just how stupid that trick was, he already knew.

He has passed away , and I learned many good things from this man, he was a great, grass roots pilot.

[bd32322]

Quote: Shadrach

I think I'd just ask him if he thought it was safe and why... Why all the need to find and inform a perceived authority figure?   Is it codified in the regs as illegal?  What recourse would said perceived authority figure have?

I have departed my plane for short times while it was idling on a few occasions, and it's always a been a non issue...

Twice during solo jump starts and the one and only time I forgot to latch the baggage door.

The procedure is is quite simple.

1) throttle to idle (about 800RPM is lowest I'll idle a lyc 4cyl)

2) Depress and lock parking brake

3) Throttle back up to test the parking brake. If it holds at >= 1700rpm then proceed to step 4, if not then you've additional issues...  

4) Throttle back to idle

5) Take care of whatever it is that needs to be attended to quickly. 

6) All people always stay behind the wing.

I do not think that the FAA would say boo about this unless there was an incident/accident, and then as with almost all things aviation, we know were the responsibility lies. 

[FBCK]

It was either this forum or the MAPA forum that last week posted pictures of some poor guys Mooney that is likely totalled from a Piper running into the back of the wing from an airplane left running unattended.  I belive it had two passengers in the back seat as well (the Piper that is) when it ran into the Mooney, no pilot.

[Immelman]

And honestly, really, starting and stopping and engine just isn't all that difficult or time consuming. Maybe I just haven't had the pleasure of dealing with those that are bears to hot-start.... its just never been an issue.

[jetdriven]

never trust a parking brake.

[DaV8or]

Just leave this picture as an example of a runaway airplane for him.

[bnicolette]

Can't beat this rationale:

 

18:15  MOREOVER IF THY BROTHER SHALL TRESPASS AGAINST THEE, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN THEE AND HIM ALONE: IF HE SHALL HEAR THEE, THOU HAST GAINED THY BROTHER.

18:16  BUT IF HE WILL NOT HEAR THEE, THEN TAKE WITH THEE ONE OR TWO MORE, THAT IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED.

18:17  AND IF HE SHALL NEGLECT TO HEAR THEM, TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH: BUT IF HE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH, LET HIM BE UNTO THEE AS AN HEATHEN MAN AND A PUBLICAN.

[PTK]

This action by this individual points to a deeper issue.  He doesn't undestand the seriousness of what he did. He is ignorant. He treated it as if it was his car!  I don't think he realizes what he is doing or the potential for disaster!  Furthermore it points to perhaps habits that just don't coincide with those of a disciplined pilot.  What else did he forget?!  It describes a rushed individual in a hurry to get in the air.  Forgetting the hedset may be the least of his worries, and he doesn't see it! 

You may be doing HIM and others a favor by having a talk with someone in charge who can straighten him out!  Maybe restrict his priviledges until he completes a safety course or something of this nature.

[henrylarry6]