I enjoy watching Trent Palmer’s YouTube videos. His cinematography is top notch. As is his editing.
In the run-up to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, Trent filmed the preparation he and his wife, Hailey, were doing for their trip to Oshkosh.
Hailey, as it turns out, is a rather nervous passenger.
On day 2 of their trip (after a rather rough first day for Hailey), the morning is off to a nice start, and then… over the radio… “Hey Trent, you are losing quite a bit of fuel out of your left wing.”
You can immediately see the mood in the cockpit change. Not surprising.
Trent then landed on a dirt road to inspect. Rather than shutting down his engine, Hailey holds the brakes as he inspects. Upon entering the cockpit Trent says, “Fuel guy didn’t put my fuel cap on right, I’m all good.”
Come on Trent.
Take responsibility. As pilot-in-command, you MUST ensure your airplane is safe to operate.
By not double checking the fueler’s work — both to make sure they put fuel in the tank AND to make certain the cap was on properly — you’ve just given Hailey another reason to be nervous.
And this time, you’re the reason.
I’m glad you made it to OSH (and back I presume). I also enjoyed your participation in the #OSH19 Aviation Social Influencer Panel. I’ll continue to watch your videos and look forward to seeing where the Freedom Fox takes you.
There is no doubt you do a great job showing the fun, excitement and camaraderie of flying. Just pay attention to those little — but oh so important — details.
Come on Trent.
What has happened to Trent Palmer? He just dodos posting YouTube videos?
Does anyone know?
I guess owning an aviation web site doesn’t mean the owner has good judgement. This isn’t news, but is some rant. Boo-hoo Ben, someone made a mistake. Grow up a little. Trent does know better, but I’m not sure Ben knows better. I guess another keyboard warrior flyer, but owns a web site.
I get that none of us are exempt from making mistakes, and I’ve made my share, but this isn’t the first time he’s shared a fuel cap incident. Pretty sure I remember a video where he actually left it off after a refueling and lost it on the ground & didn’t realize until another pilot pointed out the fuel blowing out of the top of the wing.
I did a few GoPro videos for a while, thinking it would help me evaluate my flights or landings better. In the end, it was too distracting during preflight and often delayed takeoff because of issues with camera settings. And that was just one camera.
Trent, I love your videos man, I really do. I hope I’m being taken the right way. I think you’re a great asset to the aviation community and you are getting a lot of people interested in aviation that otherwise might not be. A lot of eyes are on you. It would be a shame for us to lose you, or any pilot for that matter, because of something that’s totally preventable.
Blue skies & fly safely.
So now it is “news” when a youtube pilot forgets to check his fuel cap? I agree its a mistake but I’m surprised this is “news worthy”
Hey Trent, I always look forward to your video’s. I do my flying thru you and your buds, as I can’t pass a physical. I wouldn’t worry about this article a whole lot. You learned and we learned. That’s a win win! I started to take off in my old Mooney several years ago, and my cowling sounded like a machine gun! It had been in the shop and the mech. didn’t tighten the 10 million screws that hold it on. Lesson learned. If you mess up, tell us. We learn from others as well as ourselves. Keep up the good work, buddy!!
Go easy on Trent, it was a mistake and he learned from it. It can happen to anyone as AOPA proved with their front page photo of the Pilatus with a fuel cap hanging from the chain.
How dare you criticize a “YouTube” star, Ben !!
I attended the “Social Influencer” panel discussion at Airventure by accident arriving early for the Burt Rutan talk. My first gut impression was that most of them were “hotshots.” Now — after reading this — I believe my septuagenarian ‘gut’ served me well once again. I think some of them are starting to believe their own “Wild Blue Yonder Bravo Sierra” and losing touch with reality. They need to start paying attention to “life” and less time being YouTube ‘stars.’ Putting in so many GoPro cameras and thinking about story lines detracts from the necessary actions and focus of being PIC. His video proves it beyond any shadow of a doubt. And leaving a non-pilot to hold the brakes with an engine running … give us all a break here, Trent … you made a single mistake and then compounded it. Geesh!
With respect to line people leaving caps off … there’s those that have experienced it and those that will. And … even doing it yourself requires a second eye scan. I’ve done it myself. As is often said, you learn well from your own mistakes. Putting it on YouTube and then expecting no one to comment negatively is exemplary of what I said above. Admonition by GA News, Trent … it’s a wonderful thing. You just got your you know what whacked. Good job, Ben.
Thinking about it a bit more and after reading ‘Terks’ comment below — which I don’t disagree with — there’s a reason there’s a sterile cockpit rule in commercial aviation. Make videos or be PIC … act or fly … you can’t do either one 100% of you’re doing them simultaneously. The video is visual proof.
Ahh. So easy to point and shake our heads.
Ive been a relatively safe/competent pilot in combat, SAR and general aviation for 52 years and about 7,000 hrs so far. I too have “missed” a detail. I can tell you, if you let them teach you and not just point and laugh, they each are a lesson learned. THIS, and listening to the tales of others and taking them to heart is where your aviators tool bag is made better long after your instructor gets out. Like the old adage about making a gear up landing. There are those that have and those that will. It’s being dis interested in joining the later that keeps my adrenalin up and my attention focused on the status of my gear on EVERY approach… in whatever I’m flying. GUMP or CIGAR AFTER the checklist on EVERY pre take off or on final EVERY time. And I remember taking off out of BDR into the clag and catching fuel streaming fm the tip tank cap. It was on but not correctly. That was over 30 years ago… and it’s kept me from missing it again… for 30+ years. Learn, and try not to make a mistake twice…
And then, before he exits to look at the fuel cap, he asks her if she has the brakes. She confirms that she does and then gets on her phone while he checks the fuel cap.
I caught that too and made a similar comment to myself. “Really? You didn’t verify that it was on tight? That’s preflight 101!”
You are 100% correct. It was absolutely a mistake on my end for not double checking, and a mistake I will not make again. I try to share my mistakes so that others may learn from them too but articles like this make me reconsider what I share. I recognize I am putting myself out there for critique and ridicule but I didn’t expect it in a public manner like this from an organization like General Aviation News.
Trent, Ben wasn’t ridiculing you. He just used (and promoted!) your video as an example and reminder to all pilots to take responsibility. (To this day I still fuel my airplane myself, assuring the right quantity and type goes in and that the caps go on tightly.)
Many of these moments are teaching moments. I agree with you Trent to be called out by GAN was uncalled for. I guess no one there ever made a mistake? I don’t think so. A better tact in my opinion would be a message to you and you to acknowledge it in a future video or edit this one. But to do it the way GAN did it was cruel and uncalled for.
We read in this and other publications NTSB reports. I can’t remember any where the pilot was called out and named. So why now?
Don’t give up the videos, many of us enjoy them.
The AOPA’s theme for a long time was that a good pilot is always learning… sometimes it’s from ones own mistakes but it’s better if that learning comes from hearing second hand from other pilots. Combing thru NTSB reports here on GA news or elsewhere becomes a dull read quickly. Trent Palmers video’s along with the rest of the cowboys have been very informative and good for the community. I’ve even learned a bit from them and I’ve been licensed for 15 years. He’s had some great moments of expressing don’t do this or stated learn from that. For example the water skiing episode, engine out, ground loop monsters, etc… The videos are presented in a good story format that you actually learn from them. The fuel cap mistake I thought was a good thing he showed, it made me double check after the line guy finished yesterday and proves he’s not perfect. Minor mistakes happen and don’t be ashamed to share the experiences for other pilots to learn from, Ive had a few oops myself but nothing violating a part 91FAR… having a PAX hold the brakes at idle is a simple task. Think of the greater dangers that pilots enter hand prop-ing all these years… of course the mood is going to change when a critical moment appears. Hailey’s response reminds me of what happens for me and my PAX when the side window pops open accidentally on takeoff in my Cessna. It’s a shock but you keep flying the plane and take care of the problem when practical. Keep up the good work for the community Trent and don’t let these nay sayers get ya down, they are often just jealous of the fun you’re having. ? Hailey was a good sport about the trip. I hope she’ll be joining you more often. Just remember folks, when you shake a finger at someone you got a lot pointed back at you. Let’s all have some fun out there in some clear smooth skies.
Trent… Any of us who sign our name to our work open ourselves to critique and ridicule. Take a look at my NORDO ops column for an example… https://generalaviationnews.com/2017/01/11/nordo-ops-i-had-no-idea-i-was-an-idiot/
My wife is also a nervous passenger. And that dynamic really pulled me in to these OSH19 episodes. I hope Hailey flies with you more in the future.
I’m still a subscriber to your channel. I will continue to watch with excitement and anticipation, not with a desire to make an example.
Keep flying. Keep sharing.
I am not a pilot, but I am an aviation enthusiast. A year or two ago a colleague of mine introduced me to Trent’s videos. I have watched every single one of them. I love how he shares his enthusiasm for flying and the attitudes and ambassadorship conveyed by the Flying Cowboys. I love that Trent openly shares lessons learned and is willing to share his mistakes. Keep making videos!!!
Every profession (if it wants to be considered a profession) should internally foster a culture of quality and professionalism. In my profession (medicine), we have internal monthly meetings and other peer review processes to review mistakes and challenging cases in order for everyone to learn from them. The goal is never to single out someone but to learn from each other. Folks should feel free to openly share their mistakes without being belittled by a peer. Sooner or later everyone makes a mistake that can have grave consequences.
I am glad that GAN took advantage of the learning opportunity, but this could have been handled differently. At a minimum, the article tone could have included a lot more humility.
Pilots? Flying Cowboys? Humility?
Raw honesty for an unforgiving environment go hand in hand. We all make mistakes. We just hope they aren’t stupid ones. When broadcasting your flying adventures (or any adventures) publicly, expect criticism along with adoration. It’s the way it is. Thin skins need not apply.
Hay Trent….. I met you and Hailey at Reno air races last year….. you guys were the most friendly and accessible of any of the pilots and crews there….. thank you for taking the time to chat with me and take a couple pictures with me……. you guys are awesome!!!!!!!!!!😊