San Jose Senior Squadron 80
Safety Shorts for March 97

This collection of safety briefings is intended to provide a selection of safety related topics suitable for review at the beginning of each squadron meeting. I have tried to keep things entertaining as well as informative. Please select a topic from the list, review it at the beginning of the squadron meeting and initial that it has been discussed. The completed sheet will be filed along with the quarterly safety report at group.

Thanks

1. Check the NOTAMs. Installation of a new or temporary Tower may surprise some local pilots. Even when they check the NOTAMs, they may still come up empty handed. -- I obtained a computer briefing for VFR flight. I obtained flight following immediately after leaving home airport, and continued flight following through two states. About 15 miles north of XYZ, I tuned in XYZ ATIS to hear a message that said the Tower was closed. There was nothing else besides this. I over-flew the Class D airspace at 4,000 feet, and landed [at the next airport 25 miles further south]. After refueling, I continued to [my destination], where I was asked by ATC to contact an FAA person upon landing. I learned that a NOTAM was in effect for the airspace above XYZ for an airshow.

   Source CALLBACK, NASA ASRS, March 97

2. Flap Finesse. Flap mismanagement has caused many accidents. If flap movements are untimely or not planned, the changes to the pitching moments on the aircraft can be awkward to handle, especially when critical phases of flight begin to decay. A go-around is one of the critical phases of flight where the procedures should be instinctive. The only way for these procedures to become second nature is to study, understand and practice them. When was the last time you practiced a go-around ? Always be as ready to go-around as you are to land.

   Source CAP Safety Newsletter, March 97

3. Human Behavior. Did you know that human behavior is the #1 cause of accidents ? People who have accidents usually elect a wrong course of action in the interest of expediency, cost saving or self-gratification. It is well established that our emotional makeup is largely responsible for the accidents we get into. An international study on accident proneness revealed several common traits frequently associated with people deemed "normal". Among them are over-confident, intolerant, impatient, etc... It is no coincidence that these traits often show up as key causes in fatal accidents. To be safe, you have to accept the notion that you are not in possession of all the facts for all situations and be willing to accept the recommendations of those who specialize in evaluating, assessing and administering procedures. Bottom line- Stick with the published rules, procedures and recommendations.

   Source CAP Safety Newsletter, February 97

4. Continue to fly the aircraft to the chocks. A C-172 was damaged to the tune of $1500 when the tail was pushed into a sheet-rock wall in a hanger. Four people were involved in this push-back operations - one on the tow bar, one on each strut and one watching the tail ! After the impact, the PIC examined and tested the rudder and decided not to report the incident. At a squadron meeting, the damage was noticed and a local A&P found the damage to be significant. My first reaction is that four people should be able to safely push an aircraft into a hangar IF they are communicating effectively and the are not in a hurry. It's CRM - crew resource management. The crew should be managed right up to the point that the aircraft is safely tucked away.

   Source CAP Safety Newsletter, February 97