December 1998
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| Select WP05FS01. | December '98 |
What’s in this Issue: |
| Protection 3 Ways Severe Hazard You Can Inspect Against Why Don't You Understand Me? FAA Web Pages |
Safety
Seminars ..........For Long Beach Area ..........For Los Angeles Area ..........For Riverside Area ..........For Van Nuys Area ..........For San
Diego Area Coming in January: a review of the revised Practical Test Standards for Instrument Rating, (Revised October 1998). |
| Protection 3 Ways Severe Hazard You Can Inspect Against A young pilot and two friends took off in a Piper 140 for an afternoon pleasure flight. He had just earned his private certificate and was anxious to share the joy. Within a few hours, the flight had ended in a firey crash and three young people were dead. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found the cause of the accident to be fire in the engine compartment. An exhaust pipe inadequately held in place by an automotive clamp had separated. Aviation clamps have a pin assembly which add extra support so the clamp resists vibrating loose. Exhaust systems in aircraft carry away hot gases released during combustion, reserve some heat for carburator and cabin heating, and muffle the sound of those rushing toxic gases. These systems operate red hot at temperatures of 1000 degrees fahrenheit or more. The two major stresses on an exhaust system are:
Wear due to vibrations are the most common cause of system breakdowns. Exhaust system failures generally reach a maximum rate of occurrence at 100 to 200 hours’ operating time, and over 50 percent of the failures occur within 400 hours. There are two main assemblies in an exhaust system. The manifold is made up of a series of pipes that gather the gases from the cylinders and send them to the exhaust pipe. The muffler assembly dampens the sound of the escaping hot gases and diverts hot air for the carburator and cabin heating. Leaks around the manifold are caused by corrosion and vibration cracking. Areas where there is stress, slip joints that no longer slip and welds and parts are clamped together are prime spots for cracks and breaks. Engine backfiring and the combustion of unburned fuel add corrosion to the system. |
Half
of all exhaust system failures are traced to cracks or
ruptures in the muffler assembly. Breaks in the heat
exchanger surfaces used for cabin and carburetor air heat
sources are found near welds and stress points. Exhaust
gases escape into the cabin heat system delivering carbon
monoxide to occupants of the aircraft . The October 1998 issue of Aviation Maintenance Alerts (AC 43-16A) has the account of a plane crash with two deaths caused by carbon monoxde poisoning. The aircraft had an annual inspection thirteen hours prior to the flight yet, the extensive corrosion that caused the leak had not been corrected. Baffles inside a muffler can fail forcing the hot gases back into the engine. This will cause loss of power and cylinder damage. Any engine backfiring should trigger an exhaust system inspection. When inspecting look for:
Shine a flashlight up the exhaust stack to look for loose baffles that may be blocking the exhaust outlet. If the exhaust stack is cool, check for any movement. Check the carbon monoxide detector in the cabin, or bring one in your flight kit to use. If you own your airplane and experience a power loss, take off the cowling and inspect the system for blistering, corrosion and loose fittings. Thump the muffler with the palm of your hand to be sure the baffles are not loose. If you rent, know the expected performance of the aircraft and if you are not getting that performance, check with the mechanic. Even better, hang around during a hundred hour inspection some time and get a good look at that exhaust system. You can protect yourself and your passengers in three ways:
These actions are your allies. The three together support a flight safe from fire, loss of engine power and carbon monoxide poisoning. by Kathleen O’Brien, SPM, LGB FSDO |
| My
message machine has a stranger’s voice on it. It’s my voice, but to
my ears it sounds different. Is it the same for you? We probably sound different on our aircraft radios from the way we think we sound. Researchers tell us that people respond to the tone of the voice five times more powerfully that to the words we use. Try an experiment. Listen to a call-in radio show some day when you’re stuck in traffic. Notice that you will have an idea about what that caller is like in the first few seconds of sound. Pitch and pace can get you heard or ignored. Pitch is the tone of the voice. High pitched voices sound excited, childish or nervous. Pace is the speed you use from word to word. Pace too quickly and you may be judged impatient or rude. People tend to reflect the pitch and pace of the speaker. When you use a lower tone and a moderate pace, people will tend to perceive you as knowledgable. A side benefit to lower pitch and moderate pace is that you will mostlikely be understood the first time you transmit. |
| SoCal..Aviation..Safety..Seminars | December '98 |
| Note for all Seminars - Times are from 7:00 to 9:00 PM unless otherwise noted. No reservations are required unless noted by *. Never a fee. - For more information contact the Safety Program Manager listed in the FSDO area heading containing the event in question. All FAA Safety Seminars satisfy the requirements of AC-61.91H; the Pilot Proficiency Awards Program (Wings) and /or the Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program; AC-65-25A. |
* = Reservations Required |
TORRANCE
6:30-8:30PM Wed Dec 2 *IFR X-C TOA-BFL-SBA-TOA Location: Rolling
Hills Aviation, 3115 Airport Dr, Torrance Airport |
LONG
BEACH Thu Dec 3 How to get a Good Weather Briefing Getting what you need from the Wx services available. Location: LGB FSDO, 5001 Airport
Plaza Dr, Ste 100 |
| TORRANCE
6:30-8:30PM Thu Dec 3 Stepping up to high performance
aircraft: Location: Mission Air, 2955
Airport Drive Torrance airport |
LONG
BEACH Thu Dec 10 Edwards AFB Safety Briefing: How to Avoid a Midair Collision What you want to know about military operations and your flying safety. Location: LGB FSDO, 5001 Airport
Plaza Dr, Ste 100 |
TORRANCE 6:30-8:30PM Thu Dec 10 Pilot Prerogatives with the Rolling Hills Instructors Team Location: Rolling Hills
Aviation, 3115 Airport Dr, Torrance Airport |
| TORRANCE
6:30-8:30PM Tue Dec 15 Flying
Start Location: Rolling Hills Aviation |
TORRANCE
6:30-8:30PM Thu Dec 17 Trainer of
the future: Location: Mission Air, 2955
Airport Drive Torrance airport |
TORRANCE 10AM-12PM Sat Dec 19 *How to Get a Job and Make a Living as a Safe CFI Location: Rolling Hills
Aviation, 3115 Airport Dr, Torrance Airport |
End of Long Beach Area Seminars
* = Reservations Required |
HAWTHORNE 9AM-1PM Sat Dec 5 Operation Takeoff: Location: Hawthorne Flight
Service |
INGLEWOOD
Thu Dec 3 Questions & Answers with the NTSB Location: Northrop Rice USA
Inc., 8911 Aviation Ave. |
End of Los Angeles Area Seminars
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RIVERSIDE
7-8:30 pm Tue Dec 1 Back to Basics: Location: Riverside FSDO |
RIVERSIDE
Thu Dec 3 Maintenance Logbook Entries & PIC Responsibilities Location: Riverside FSDO |
| RIVERSIDE 10 AM - Noon Sat Dec 12 Operation Takeoff: How to Best Use the Services of Riverside AFSS Location: Riverside AFSS at
Riverside Airport |
EDWARDS
AFB 2nd Sat of Dec *"Operation
Raincheck" Contact: (805) 258-6300 |
MURIETTA Wed Dec 16 Weather or Not - Know or Don’t Go (Weather Seminar) Location: American Valet Air @
French Valley Airport |
End of Riverside Area Seminars
* = Reservations Required |
PALMDALE
9 AM to 4 PM 3rd Sat of Dec *"Operation Raincheck" LA ARTC Center Pilot Familiarization Contact: (805) 538-2402 |
SANTA
MARIA Wed Dec 2 On Landings Part II & III Location: Santa Maria Public
Airport District Board Room |
VAN NUYS - AV8, Inc. The
following 6 Seminars are located at AV8,
Inc. - 16431 Vanowen St. |
| 9:00 - 11:00AM Sat Dec 5 *What Every Pilot Should Know About Aerobatics Speaker: Randy Chestnutt, Pres of LA Aerobatic Club |
Wed Dec 9 *Flight
Instructor Seminar: Speaker: George Prewitt, DPE VNY FSDO |
9:00 - 11:00AM Sat Dec 12 *CRM (Cockpit Resource Management) Speaker: Gary Cost, Mercy Air |
| 5:30 - 7:00PM Tue Dec 15 *Advanced Pilot
Seminar: Speaker: Stelios Rapis, Pres Chrysler Aviation (VNY) |
Wed Dec 16 *Avoiding Runway Incursions Speaker: Richard Mend CFI-AIM-ATP |
5:30 - 7:00 PM Thur Dec 17 *Aviation
Technician Seminar: Speaker: Peter Bishop, Plexiglass Specialist |
| End of AV8 Seminars |
HEAR YEE, HEAR YEE: To all Students, Recreational and CFI Pilots!!! In recent months, several California recreational aviators have mistaken the Vandenberg AFB (VBG) (15,000 ft runway) for neighboring Lompoc (3,600 ft) and Santa Maria (SMX) (6,300 ft) airports, partially because runway configuration is similar. NOTE: Vandenberg is a Military Base in Restricted Airspace. Obviously there is a cause for concern. It is vital that pilots conduct a thorough preflight plan with increased visual scanning. Also an added confirmation from the destination Tower that their "aircraft is in sight" would enhance the pilots comfort level as well as safety. **CONSEQUENCES** Landing at Vandenberg AFB requires a comprehensive security investigation for (drugs, explosives, etc) with an unauthorized landing fee up to $600.00, plus possible criminal trespass prosecution and, finally, a formal report to the FAA. Also the aircraft may be detained until the ensuing investigation is complete. Hint Hint: ALL PILOTS SHALL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRFIELDS AND AIRSPACE SURROUNDING THEIR DESTINATION. Also, if disoriented talk to ATC they are there to HELP. |
End of Van Nuys Seminars and Notices
| SoCal Aviation Safety Review is published monthly by the F.A.A. Western Pacific Safety Program. Comments, suggestions and news info are invited. SoCal Aviation Safety Review reserves the right to edit all material. Please address all correspondence to: your local Safety Program Manager. Edited by Kevin L. Clover - FAA AWP-204 - 5001 Airport Plaza Dr. Ste 100 - Long Beach, CA 90815 - E-Mail kevin.l.clover@faa.dot.gov |
|
Happy Holidays
From
your SoCal Aviation Safety Program Managers
|
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| Select WP09FS09 | December '98 |
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What's in this issue: SoCal
Aviation Maintenance |
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| Maintenance Technicians, Pilots and
Intructors We are looking for approximately 16 people to do presentations at our Aviation Maintenance Technicians and Pilots Symposium in February 1999. We want our local professionals to participate! Get Involved! Contact Fred at: (619)557-5281 ext.266 |
| Coming in
February… SoCal Aviation Maintenance Technician and Pilot’s Symposium at Buena Park-Sequoia Conference Center February 26 & 27, 1999! AVIALL will be hosting the SoCal symposium. Bill O’Brian will be speaking!! Many other companies with maintenance and flight training programs will be there with a variety of booths and presentations. Registration will be required. Attention! We Need help! …for the San Diego Aviation Maintenance Technicians & Pilots Symposium. We are looking for local vendors to display booths and present industry procedures for use of their technology in aviation maintenance. Flight Schools and Flying Clubs, this is also a chance for you to come out and show us your stuff. The symposium will be at Miramar College in February, 1999 (final date pending). |
| MONTGOMERY
FIELD AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER OPERATON SUNBREAK Contact: Montgomery Field ATCT for dates and times - (619) 277-5601 |
GILLESPIE
FIELD AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER OPERATION SUNBREAK 3:00 PM Dec 19 Contact: Gillespie Field ATCT for Location, (619) 448-1449 |
MONTGOMERY
FIELD AFSS FLY-IN IF YOU WISH OPERATION TAKEOFF Last Saturday of each month - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: San
Diego Automated Flight Service Station - 4302 Ponderosa
Ave. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! |
In addition, San Diego area
seminars can be found by calling |
| There are no Wings Seminars this month. We know all you would be thinking about is the shopping you had left to do, so go do it. |