Phenomenal statistic

[PTK]

I had started a thread a few days ago on intrinsic engine failures. Along a similar theme I came across this statistic which I find absolutely astonishing:

"...30 accidents in a typical year are caused by deficiencies that should have been spotted during preflight. Twenty percent of those are fatal." *

That's 6 fatal accidents per year resulting from deficient preflight! Isn't this mind boggling?!

 

* Kenny, David Jack "Look before you leap." Flight training 12 Feb. 2012: 51.

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/magazine/2012/February/ir_look_before_leaping.html

[DaV8or]

Yup. Some people really want to believe that their airplane is as reliable as their new Toyota. Just jump in and go. What could go wrong? Everything was inspected at annual right?

Our planes are old and outdated technology by modern manufacturing standards. Many of us are flying planes older than we are. Everytime we take our planes up, they are trying to beat themselves to pieces. Inspect thouroughly and often folks.

[jetdriven]

Quote: DaV8or

Yup. Some people really want to believe that their airplane is as reliable as their new Toyota. Just jump in and go. What could go wrong? Everything was inspected at annual right?

Our planes are old and outdated technology by modern manufacturing standards. Many of us are flying planes older than we are. Everytime we take our planes up, they are trying to beat themselves to pieces. Inspect thouroughly and often folks.

[AmigOne]

As incredible as forgetting to remove the gust lock sounds, my multiengine instructor with thousands of hours of flight time forgot to do so in a Baron and killed himself and a couple from the Netherlands who every year came to Florida to go flying with him in the Caribbean. 

[butchgilbert]

IMHO, there are as many (if not more) incidences of pilots running airplanes out of fuel inflight, those are the ones that really bother me.

[jetdriven]

about 90% of engine failures are caused by fuel exhaustion or fuel starvation.  Don't worry about that. Thats what insurance is for. Stuff happens.

But dont ever pull your plane out of it's spot by the prop!  thats dangerous !

 

 

 

 

[PTK]

Quote: jetdriven

about 90% of engine failures are caused by fuel exhaustion or fuel starvation.  Don't worry about that. Thats what insurance is for. Stuff happens.

But dont ever pull your plane out of it's spot by the prop!  thats dangerous !

[jetdriven]

people often focus on events which bear little to no risk while ignoring or forgetting the things that cause 90% of accidents.

[PTK]

This post regards pilot preflight negligence and deficiencies. Running out of fuel is not a preflight deficiency per se. However pushing/pulling the airplane around by the prop is considered negligent. 

[jetdriven]

Don't you think that checking the fuel is on the preflight checklist?  

[gregwatts]

Quote: allsmiles

This post regards pilot preflight negligence and deficiencies. Running out of fuel is not a preflight deficiency per se. However pushing/pulling the airplane around by the prop is considered negligent.

[N9660M]

I'm mildly surprised the number is not higher than 30, considering there are hundreds of thousands of GA flights annually.  Of course even one is too many, and we all need to guard against complacency, but people will at times get careless (especially if in a hurry or otherwise under stress).

[Scott Aviation]

My preflight always starts by pulling the plane out of the hangar by the prop, then cracking open the fuel tanks to make sure theres gas, then I kick the tires and light the fires....haaha. sorry just had to say it. oh and my plane is 4 years older than I am.

[PTK]

I am not going to argue with anybody. We're all adults and capable of making decisions. I simply brought this statistic to everyone's attention.

[jetdriven]

...

[aviatoreb]

Quote: AmigOne

As incredible as forgetting to remove the gust lock sounds, my multiengine instructor with thousands of hours of flight time forgot to do so in a Baron and killed himself and a couple from the Netherlands who every year came to Florida to go flying with him in the Caribbean. 

[PTK]

Quote: N9660M

I'm mildly surprised the number is not higher than 30, considering there are hundreds of thousands of GA flights annually.  Of course even one is too many, and we all need to guard against complacency, but people will at times get careless (especially if in a hurry or otherwise under stress).

[Becca]

Quote: aviatoreb

I am very sorry to hear that.

I read of a person in a Saratoga who did that in nj I think last year.  I decided then that I would only use gust locks that lock the yoke from inside the cockpit at the pilots position.

 

[Becca]

Quote: allsmiles

I was actually shocked it is so high! 6 fatal accidents / year only from lack to properly preflight. I think we all need to take this to heart and objectively self critique. We need to be sure we are not perpetuating bad habits. I for one, have compiled my own checklist right out of the POH. It is time consuming to go through each and every item. It is very easy to fall into a habit of abbreviating. I will be the first to admit. On occasion, I have sinned!

[jetdriven]

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[Bolter]

Quote: Becca

I was actually shocked it is so high! 6 fatal accidents / year only from lack to properly preflight. I think we all need to take this to heart and objectively self critique. We need to be sure we are not perpetuating bad habits. I for one, have compiled my own checklist right out of the POH. It is time consuming to go through each and every item. It is very easy to fall into a habit of abbreviating. I will be the first to admit. On occasion, I have sinned!

[jetdriven]

Quote: tomcullen

One of the "tricks" my first instructor taught me after doing the checklist preflight to walk around the plane a second time, just looking at it, and thinking about it, and you might catch something you've missed.  This habit has serviced me well.

[Becca]

Hm, that last post was from Becca.  I clearly got the login bug again.

[jetdriven]

Quote: tomcullen

(towbar)    but developed the practice to never leave it in the wheel, always keep it in hand, or lay it on the ground.  Like a machinist's practice to never take a hand off the t-handle in the lathe.  

-dan 

[jetdriven]

Quote: tomcullen

In my standard operating procedure, there are already two checks for control surface problems (including leaving in a gust lock).  The pre-flight walk around and the checklist also says to exercise full control travel in each direction to ensure function.  This includes stomping the rudder pedals.   Two separate checklists would need need to be ignored to miss the gust locks for me.  

I think my most likely error of omission might be missing the cowling plugs before start up, especially if just moving the plane around.  The flags poke over the cowling as a visually indicator, which helps of course.  I used to fear leaving the tow bar (for times I don't pull on the prop :-)  but developed the practice to never leave it in the wheel, always keep it in hand, or lay it on the ground.  Like a machinist's practice to never take a hand off the t-handle in the lathe.  

-dan