The pilot’s failure to properly tighten his seat belt, which allowed him to slide forward in his seat and resulted in his inadvertent application of excessive brake application during the landing roll and a subsequent noseover.
Aviation News
Picture of the Day: The essence of grassroots aviation
John Schmidt submitted this photo and note: “A Pietenpol, the essence of grassroots, self-reliant, aviation, landing at sunset on a summer evening in Minnesota (home of designer Bernard Pietenpol!).
Tips & tricks from our readers
Our readers weigh in with their own advice on everything from high engine temperatures to meandering flight to what to put in your pilot survival kit.
Video: A close-up look at a volcano
Reuters has just posted a short video to YouTube showing the moment a drone crashes into an erupting volcano in Iceland. The drone captures stunning images of lava flowing out of the volcano before it crashes. The drone pilot then comes on the video, explaining how difficult it is to fly a drone in these conditions. Check it out below:
Helping A&Ps learn their craft
The donation is the largest in-kind donation the Texas college has ever received. SWAT also will provide a scholarship for students studying to be A&Ps and avionics technicians.
Garmin autopilot approved for Comanches
Garmin continues to add additional aircraft models to the STC list for the GFC 500 autopilots. This time it’s the Piper Comanche.
Inoperative fuel gauge, improper fuel planning results in bent helicopter
The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power, and his improper landing flare during a forced autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident were the inoperative fuel gauge, which was not accurately calibrated, and the pilot’s reliance on the gauge.
Pictures of the Day: Only GA can let you do that
Jim Hefner submitted these photos and note: “My wife and I did a day trip flight from Tucson to Catalina Island. The first photo is a shot of our plane parked at The Airport in the Sky (KAVX). This flight had been on my bucket list for several years and it was worth the wait. Due to COVID we didn’t want to stay overnight, so we flew nearly 1,000 miles to have a picnic lunch on an island in the Pacific and were back home by 5 pm … only GA can let you do that! It was an incredible day getaway with my wife that we will never forget.”
Mind your momma
The visual stimulation of flight coupled with the almost completely unfettered freedom the airplane gave me made me glad I zigged when others zagged. I fastidiously kept my nose clean while some of my peers went another way, to their ultimate detriment.