A recent video by the Flight Safety Detectives examines general aviation safety issues. The “detectives” — well-known aviation-industry consultants and former NTSB investigators John Goglia and Greg Feith — discuss a variety of general aviation incidents that happened on the ground, such as running over taxi lights, hitting another airplane on the ground while taxiing, or taking off with a tow bar still attached.
During the 19 minute discussion they note that the root cause for most these avoidable accidents and incidents are “a lack operational discipline by pilots.”
Why should we care? Because the claims coming out these incidents increase insurance rates, so all general aviation pilots are paying a price, the duo note.
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER EXTERNAL MICROPHONES TO GIVE BETTER AUDIO!!!!
I think you missed it! There is a problem and to resolve a problem properly you have to fully understand it , identify it and issue a proper correction.
Its upbringing the parents or lack of parents is turning out young people without direction or quality. By the was Boeing got the same problem obviously.
Why are 40 to 50% failure rate acceptable when DPE examine a student for a new rating. Because, they did that in school too.
We are NOW reaping what we sowed!
I advise making your own personal checklists, reflecting YOUR OWN installed EQUIPMENT and COVERS using the Manufacturers suggested checklists as a starting point.
The LAST ITEM in the PRE-FLIGHT checklist should be a 360 degree walkaround inspection at a slight distance to catch anything missed. This last step helps to prevent gross errors like leaving a towbar attached or leaving something on an external surface.
I also advise a POST-FLIGHT checklist that helps insure NO SURPRISES when you return to fly next time – All necessary COVERS in place.
Checklists like this are easily created and easily revised. They can be laminated for durability at minimal cost.
Jerry King
I totally agree, especially your point about the 360 visual “last chance” inspection. It catches towbars and fuel caps as well. One other thing I’ve done is tying all the covers, plugs, etc. together with a good length of orange paracord. When one comes off, they all come off. If the airplane isn’t hangared just attach the cord to the airplane to keep a strong breeze from carrying everything away if one comes loose.
Preflighting an LSA one afternoon for a flight with my wife when she told me about the 172 that had just started the engine with the tow bar attached. I ran over waving my arms and giving the “cut” signal. The guy, who I presume was the CFI, in the right seat gave me the what? look and I pointed to the nose. I saw him say something to the left-seater, student then get out and take the tow bar off. I went back to my preflight.