MVP of Safety Devices

[201er]

Ok, so I've started a few discussions about a few gadgets I value but I'd like to open this up to a broader discussion of what one single device you would recommend to others as the most accident preventing or life saving item they should buy (if they don't already have).

 

Instruction, proficiency, and meticulous maintenance aside (because I don't think anyone but the dentist would argue that these aren't money well spent when it comes to safety), and given a Mooney, what devices do you think help improve safety? Feel free to post a numbered list from most to least, but vote on the single most.

 

Vote on what you'd recommend to others but if you've experienced something that saved your life, be sure to share. The reason I believe there may exist a dichotomy between what may have saved you and what you'd recommend can come down to probability. So for instance if a traffic avoidance system saved you from an imminent midair, it may be the greatest thing you ever bought but you may not believe that midairs are frequent enough to merit others investing in the system. So if there is such a split in opinion, be sure to state it.

[Jamie]

Interesting topic, but it depends on the mission, obviously. I don't have an instrument rating yet, so a lot of those options are not useful to a daylight only VFR only pilot.  Given that, I intend to add a fire extinguisher ASAP. I think followed by a CO detector.

[WardHolbrook]

Gadgets are great and most pilots are gadget geeks, but the single most cost effective safety enhancement you can add to your airplane is a well trained pilot. Take a page out of the pro's book and spend an hour or two every six months.  

[PTK]

I'm not one to hang gadgets on every square inch of my panel. The single most cost effective "gadget" with the highest ROI on safety remains the training of the human in the left seat. I don't think anyone in their right mind would argue that. So be careful with your insinuations there Einstein!

We have plenty of examples, unfortunately, where gadgets just don't save lives.

Having said that, I think everyone should have a CO detector and a fire extinguisher.

Also that poll with the list as presented contains "useful equipment" and "useless gadgets" all mixed in. Thus it makes no sense asking to select one. 

I was going to select yokes but you left them out!

For example, an IFR GPS or extended range tanks or TKS, are useful equipment for certain applications, where an AOA ind is truly a useless gadget!

[BorealOne]

I was going to choose 'Phasers (set on stun)' but I don't see it listed.

[Oscar Avalle]

I would say what really saves you sits between your ears, but has to be trained as often as possible. No gadgets will save you if you are not well trained. 

[chrisk]

My wish list is a ballistic parachute.  --I suspect my grand children will die of old age before this happens!

[chrisk]

My wish list is a ballistic parachute.  --I suspect my grand children will die of old age before this happens!

 

This video shows a good example of why I would want one. 

Look at time 2:15.  --And of course this could never happen in a Mooney.  It would be the tail instead.

[RJBrown]

Parachute is a sales gimmick. There was a pilot who lost gyros in the clouds pulled the chute and got no chute. He landed safely. Training saved him. Circus would have listed him as a "save" but the parachute failed. It is a gimmick for low time pilots and their wives to "feel" safe. Its existence only highlights the "I'm scared to fly cause its so unsafe" MYTH.

 Pure BS and way more money than I would ever spend for such a JOKE solution.

PS tails don't fall off Mooneys you are thinking of Bonanzas and Saratogas.

A good auto pilot and the knowledge to use it properly can help keep you ahead of the plane in busy situations. I consider it required equiptment for IFR operations.

[fantom]

A good auto pilot could keep some out of trouble and lower the workload.

Shoulder + lap seat belts that aren't frayed and are on tight should minimize injury.

But staying current/competent, avoiding real bad WX, having more fuel than you need in the tanks, keeping you eyes outside rather than buried in some gizmos, maintaing situational awareness, and not losing you cool and panicking when something goes wrong, will dramatically reduce your odds of becoming a statistic.

As Trey used to say, 'Don't do nothin stupid'.

[chrisk]

Parachute is a sales gimmick. There was a pilot who lost gyros in the clouds pulled the chute and got no chute. He landed safely. Training saved him. Circus would have listed him as a "save" but the parachute failed. It is a gimmick for low time pilots and their wives to "feel" safe. Its existence only highlights the "I'm scared to fly cause its so unsafe" MYTH.

 Pure BS and way more money than I would ever spend for such a JOKE solution.

PS tails don't fall off Mooneys you are thinking of Bonanzas and Saratogas.

A good auto pilot and the knowledge to use it properly can help keep you ahead of the plane in busy situations. I consider it required equiptment for IFR operations.

 

I agree ballistic chutes are not perfect and cost far to much.   But, if I could put one in my plane for $5K, I would.   And I would feel much better about flying it at night, or over rough terrain, or in IMC. 

 

Also, I don't know the statistics, but it seems fuel exhaustion is a common way for pilots to die.   99.99% preventable, but I bet ballistic chutes would save many of these pilots.

 

I also think that the seatbelt airbags are a good idea, but I'm not sure I'm ready to spend the cash to get them installed.  Especially since my plane already has shoulder belts.

[yvesg]

You forgot something in your list:

WIFE

[201er]

You forgot something in your list:

WIFE

I was talking about affordable safety devices.

[Marauder]

Parachute is a sales gimmick. There was a pilot who lost gyros in the clouds pulled the chute and got no chute. He landed safely. Training saved him. Circus would have listed him as a "save" but the parachute failed. It is a gimmick for low time pilots and their wives to "feel" safe. Its existence only highlights the "I'm scared to fly cause its so unsafe" MYTH. Pure BS and way more money than I would ever spend for such a JOKE solution. PS tails don't fall off Mooneys you are thinking of Bonanzas and Saratogas. A good auto pilot and the knowledge to use it properly can help keep you ahead of the plane in busy situations. I consider it required equiptment for IFR operations. I agree ballistic chutes are not perfect and cost far to much. But, if I could put one in my plane for $5K, I would. And I would feel much better about flying it at night, or over rough terrain, or in IMC. Also, I don't know the statistics, but it seems fuel exhaustion is a common way for pilots to die. 99.99% preventable, but I bet ballistic chutes would save many of these pilots. I also think that the seatbelt airbags are a good idea, but I'm not sure I'm ready to spend the cash to get them installed. Especially since my plane already has shoulder belts.

If recall correctly, the Cirrus chutes need to be repacked every 10 years. Current cost = $10k... That is a lot of recurrent training...

[Marauder]

You forgot something in your list: WIFE I was talking about affordable safety devices.

Like all things in life, you need to shop around. Find one that is not too old, works and makes more money than you do. They are out there, you just gotta look.

[201er]

Like all things in life, you need to shop around. Find one that is not too old, works and makes more money than you do. They are out there, you just gotta look.

Not everyone gets 155ktas and a 25+ year paint job with no wrinkles.

[Marauder]

Not everyone gets 155ktas and a 25+ year paint job with no wrinkles.

 

You need to speak nicely to your plane and not your parrots and you too could get those results!

[fantom]

You need to speak nicely to your plane and not your parrots and you too could get those results!

 

Just can't help:

 

[Marauder]

Not everyone gets 155ktas and a 25+ year paint job with no wrinkles.

 

 I forgot to post these for you... After I had the new EI RPM gauge installed, I played with several RPM settings on the new gauge (me likey digital). (Throttle WO & ROP) 

 

 

 

Here is what my TAS looked like at the different RPM settings:

 

2400 RPMs:

 

 

2500 RPMS:

 

 

2700 RPMS (actually 2690 )

 

 

As I explained to Cruiser, no idea why my F is as strong as it is. It does have most of the J mods installed by a previous owner. Useful load is 960. It also has a strong powerplant -- always has been a great climber. Now that I have digital gauges for everything, I can't blame errors on the old stuff -- the new stuff matches the performance.

 

Certainly isn't the CamGuard -- I don't use it.

Certainly isn't LOP -- still haven't tried it.

And it certainly isn't the Parrots -- had them for lunch. Yummy

[PTK]

...And it certainly isn't the Parrots -- had them for lunch. Yummy

 

You too?!

 

Crunchy little suckers aren't they?

[jetdriven]

 I forgot to post these for you... After I had the new EI RPM gauge installed, I played with several RPM settings on the new gauge (me likey digital). (Throttle WO & ROP) 

 

New EI RPM Gauge.jpg

 

 

Here is what my TAS looked like at the different RPM settings:

 

2400 RPMs:

 

Mooney RPM 2400.jpg

 

2500 RPMS:

 

Mooney RPM 2500.jpg

 

2700 RPMS (actually 2690 )

 

Mooney RPM 2700.jpg

 

As I explained to Cruiser, no idea why my F is as strong as it is. It does have most of the J mods installed by a previous owner. Useful load is 960. It also has a strong powerplant -- always has been a great climber. Now that I have digital gauges for everything, I can't blame errors on the old stuff -- the new stuff matches the performance.

 

Certainly isn't the CamGuard -- I don't use it.

Certainly isn't LOP -- still haven't tried it.

And it certainly isn't the Parrots -- had them for lunch. Yummy

 

Verifies my data, around 2-3 knots more TAS for every 100 RPM increase.

[OR75]

I want an engine that never fails.

 

recurrent training is nice but someone helps me understand how many steep turns, stalls, short field landings, etc ... a pilot must perform to undertsand that when the wind is gusting 50kts ... it is not a good idea to go flying.

[201er]

 I forgot to post these for you... After I had the new EI RPM gauge installed, I played with several RPM settings on the new gauge (me likey digital). (Throttle WO & ROP) 

Sometime you're up there with nothing to do, can you take photos of not just the speed but also the EDM830 and post those side by side? I'd like to see all the engine parameters alongside the speed you're getting. It's not disbelief (well maybe a little) but out of curiosity how everything else plays in. BTW, what's your mag timing? And when you're getting these speeds are you hand flying or on autopilot? I think George tends to be worth at least a few knots and if he's got multiple hands then possibly more.

[Marauder]

I forgot to post these for you... After I had the new EI RPM gauge installed, I played with several RPM settings on the new gauge (me likey digital). (Throttle WO & ROP) Sometime you're up there with nothing to do, can you take photos of not just the speed but also the EDM830 and post those side by side? I'd like to see all the engine parameters alongside the speed you're getting. It's not disbelief (well maybe a little) but out of curiosity how everything else plays in. BTW, what's your mag timing? And when you're getting these speeds are you hand flying or on autopilot? I think George tends to be worth at least a few knots and if he's got multiple hands then possibly more.

Sure. These pictures were taken after the EI RPM gauge was installed but before the JPI. They were all done with the AP on flying GPSS and holding altitude. I don't trust myself taking pictures while flying. Sort of like texting and driving And you got some explaining to do why your J does the speeds it does! I think it is slow for a J. What power settings are you running to settle in at 150k?

[bnicolette]

Here's mine. Please forgive the beginning with wifeypoo sleeping in the back. We were on our way back from Teterboro after a good weekend in NYC.