USA

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    Family Charges Bombardier with Negligence

    The National Transportation Safety Board’s decision on the Colgan Air Flight 407 crash is that the pilot responded inappropriately to the stick shaker, which led to an aerodynamic stall from which the airplane did not recover. The stick shaker only comes into play when the plane is already slow enough to stall. The plane fell 800 feet before crashing pointing northeast, away from the airport

    The family of Ellyce Kausner has filed a lawsuit against Bombardier. Bombardier is the manufacturer of the plane involved in the crash. The suit charges that Bombardier was “negligent and careless” in the design of the plane by not providing more efficient internal mechanical warning systems.

    Kausner was a 24 year old Jacksonville law student traveling to NY to visit family.

    At least 19 other families have filed suits.

    At the time of the crash, the automated “stick-pusher,” pushes the control column down in order to send the aircraft into a temporary dive so it can regain speed and recover from a stall but Capt. Renslow yanked back on the controls while adding thrust, manually overriding the stick-pusher.

    Colgan Air, Clarence Center, NY, Accident Dockets

    George’s Point of View

    Time for Bombardier to step up to the plate. Although this has little to do with the pilot, who had flunked numerous flight tests during his career and was never adequately taught how to respond to the emergency that led to the airplane’s fatal descent. Maybe Ellyce would still be here if the warning systems on the Bombardier were simply better.

    When the plane slowed down to a dangerous level, it set off the stall-prevention system, and the pilot performed the opposite of the proper procedure. So there were hiring and training issues involved too. And Captain Renslow had about 109 hours of experience, hardly enough to be pilot.

    Even if procedures seem counter-intuitive, shouldn’t the pilot be aware of them?

    Barring the inefficiency of an ill-prepared pilot, shouldn’t Bombardier have some kind of way to limit ineffective pilot responses?

    When the hiring and training fails, and when the pilot fails, shouldn’t there be some kind of fail-safe within the plane? Even a copy of the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Not Crashing your Bombardier for pilots who flunked their last check write 16 months before and who apparently didn’t read the real manual?

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    Injured Flight Attendent Delays Plane

    What: US Airways flight en route to Philadelphia
    Where: Columbus Ohio
    When: February 25 2011, 3:30 pm
    Who: not available
    Why: A flight attendant injured boarding was further injured when the flight encountered turbulence. The flight diverted to Port Columbus and made a safe landing where the fight attendant was seen by paramedics and transported to Grant Medical Center. US Airways has no base of operations in Port Columbus; and passengers endured a lengthy wait aboard the plane as USAirways searched for a replacement flight attendant. The flight resumed at 5:15 after a replacement attendant was found .

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    Indiana Pilot Crashes in Corn Field


    What: #3875C C421 Golden Eagle Executive Commuter plane
    Where: Connersville Indiana
    When: 8:15 pm
    Who: James Robert Savor, 47
    Why: Around 8:15 witnesses heard the plane flying low. It crashed in a corn field south East County Road 400, near Henry Road two miles from the airport Weather at the time was rainy. The pilot was killed in the crash.

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    Turbulence Injures 3 over Salt Lake


    Pictured: A Skywest Canadair jet similar to the one experiencing turbulence
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mark Kryst
    What: Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Helena,MT to Salt Lake City,UT
    Where: Grand Junction,CO
    When: Feb 16th 2011
    Who: 32 passengers
    Why: On approach to Salt Lake City, the plane encountered turbulence. The pilot diverted to Grand Junction, where they landed an hour later. Three individuals were injured, and treated by paramedics.

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    Student Pilot Flight Crashes 20 miles from Airport


    Flight Aware
    What: Flight academy (leased) Cessna 172S Skyhawk en route from Daytona Beach airport to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and back to Daytona.
    Where: Smyrna Beach Florida
    When: Feb 16, 2010
    Who: Pilot and student
    Why: A Norwegian student and an instructor crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, just north of Canaveral National Seashore, near Bethune Beach in New Smyrna Beach, Florida in a leased Cessna Skyhawk, at about 6:30 pm. The plane was seen falling into the ocean 20 miles from the airport, 200 yards from the beach. The aircraft submerged before rescuers could reach the craft, and pieces of it are in the water.

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    9 Minute Turbo-Prop Emergency Over Big Sur


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer

    What: Skywest Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turbo-prop en route from Santa Barbara to San Francisco
    Where: Big Sur
    When: Feb 11, 2011
    Who: 29 passengers
    Why: After losing pressure over Big Sur at around 1 pm, the Skywest flight diverted to Monterey Peninsula Airport and made an emergency landing at 1:09 pm. The landing was made under emergency conditions with crews on standby, but there were no injuries. Some passengers complained to paramedics of ear problems and were examined. After passengers disembarked and were transported to their destinations, the flight crew flew on to San Francisco alone.

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    British Airways Crew-only Flight Home Interrupted

    What: British Airways en route from Boston to London
    Where: Logan International Airport
    When: Jan 31, 2011
    Who: 13 crew
    Why: After taking off for London, smoke was reported in the cabin. Pilots returned to Logan and made safe landing at 8:16 am. Maintenance determined that oil from an auxiliary power unit for an air conditioner was the problem.

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    US Airways Flight Lands Fast at Burlington

    What: US Airways en route from Philadelphia to Burlington International
    Where: Burlington International
    When: Jan 25, 2011
    Who: 82 passengers
    Why: Before landing, the plane initiated a flap warning light, indicating a problem with the flaps, which help slow the plane.

    Emergency crews were on standby during the landing which was expected to be fast, due to the flap problem.

    On landing at Burlington, the fast landing stressed the brakes and heated them up. A right brake indicated it was running hot; but there were no injuries. This was the 2nd of two “phase 5” (high level) emergency landings. Both had safe outcomes.

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    Open Door Plane Lands at Burlington International Airport

    What: United Express/Atlantic Southeast Airlines en route from Burlington International Airport to Washington-Dulles in Virginia
    Where: Burlington International Airport, Vermont
    When: Jan 24, 2010 6:45 a.m.
    Who: 43 passengers
    Why: While en route, the pilot was having trouble steering; a light indicated that a passenger door was open. A “Phase 5 Emergency” was declared, and rescue vehicles were on standby.

    The flight returned to Burlington International Airport not long after takeoff and made a safe landing.
    There were no injuries reported.

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    Portland City Council to Vote on USS John F. Kennedy Aircraft Carrier Project

    PORTLAND, Maine, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, January 19, the USS JFK Museum will present a detailed business plan to the Portland City Council (7:00pm) in hopes to gain their support in the effort to bring the decommissioned aircraft carrier to Casco Bay. The Navy requires organizations seeking to acquire the ship in their donation program to have the support of its host city as part of the “Phase II” submission. The Portland City Council must vote in favor of the project or Portland will be disqualified for consideration, leaving Newport, RI as another potential host city and the possibility of the ship being scrapped as the only other alternatives. Being the last non-nuclear powered aircraft carrier in the fleet, the USS JFK is also in all probability, the last U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to ever go on public display as a museum.

    Woods, who leads the USS JFK Museum organization as CEO/Executive Director, will be presenting a detailed budget and business plan outlining the benefits and economic opportunity the project holds along with the commitment that the acquisition process and future operation of the USS JFK Museum will come at no expense to the city or its taxpayers. In fact, the plan being presented will include significant direct revenue projections to the City of Portland along with the expected annual positive economic impact to Portland and the region in the tens-of-million-of-dollars.

    “Early feedback concerning the USS JFK Museum only focused on the size of the ship while ignoring the enormity of the opportunity. I believe that the USS JFK Museum has the potential to serve as the greatest single catalyst for local & regional growth ever experienced here in Maine,” said Woods. “Our presentation to the Portland City Council on Wednesday evening will demonstrate a forward looking vision along with the practical details needed to evaluate a project of this magnitude. All I’m asking from the Mayor, the City Councilors and the public is to keep an open mind in regard to this proposal as we hope to enter the Navy’s Phase III period for securing the ship (next 7-months) – at which point, there will be ample time to sink this process if that becomes the collective will. But, to do so now preemptively serves no purpose,” concluded Woods.

    Naval aviator (and famous attorney), F. Lee Bailey, is expected to attend to the Portland City Council meeting to speak in favor of the project as a current Maine (and longtime – coming to Maine first in 1933) resident and former member of the military as a jet fighter pilot. F. Lee Bailey has also experienced a carrier landing/launch on the USS JFK a few years ago during an official visit to the ship at the invitation of the US Navy.

    (In addition to serving as the CEO/Executive Director of the USS JFK Museum organization (501 (c)(3): 30-0593890,) Stephen M. Woods is also the Founder/CEO of emg3/TideSmart Global (an international experiential marketing firm based in the Portland area), an elected Town Councilor from Yarmouth, and a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine.)

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    Engine Fire Disrupts St Thomas Flight

    What: Fresh Air 1955 Convair C-131F cargo plane en route from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas
    Where: St Thomas
    When: Jan 17, 2010, 7:55 am
    Who: pilot Carlos Garcia and First Officer Eduardo Vasquez
    Why: While taking off, an engine began smoking. The pilots returned to land but was unable to stop, skidded through the perimeter fence and came to a stop across from Emerald Beach Hotel. No one was injured but the plane was engulfed in flame.
    The incident tied up the airport, canceling flights for part of the morning.

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    Delta Emergency Landing in Detroit


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Andrew Hunt

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 747-400 en route from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Tokyo Narita
    Where: Churchill
    When: Jan 15th 2011
    Why: While en route, the flight developed engine trouble and diverted to Minneapolis but with more trouble, diverted their diversion to Detroit where they made an emergency landing.

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    Mesaba Emergency Landing

    What: Mesaba/Delta CRJ 200 en route from Minneapolis to Dayton
    Where: Dane County Regional Airport, Madison
    When: Jan 7 2011
    Who: 40 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane developed engine trouble.
    One of the engines displayed an emergency warning and had to be shut down.

    The pilot landed safely in Madison. Passengers disembarked normally.

    George’s Point of View

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    Shenandoah Crash Fatalities Named in Mid-Air Collision

    What: Cessna 172H
    Where: Staunton, Virginia
    When: Dec 31, 2010, 2 pm
    Who: 2 fatalities, 2 aboard.
    Why: AirCare 5, a medical-evacuation Eurocopter EC135 bumped off the Cessna’s left wing, after which the Cessna crashed, killing the two aboard.

    The registered owner of the plane is Michael W. Price of Elkton, Va. The victims were Jason Allen Long, 32, of Edinburg, and Jacob Houston Kiser, 19, of Grottoes.

    Three people, pilot Paul Weve, co-pilot and flight nurse Joseph Root and flight nurse Carolyn Booke were aboard the Eurocopter, which landed safely. They had just dropped off a patient at the University of Virginia Medical Center. PHI Inc. of Lafayette, Louisiana owns the helicopter which is based at Weyers Cave Airport. The helicopter pilot has been praised in the media for making an amazing landing.

    Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport is 30 miles northwest of Charlottesville. SHD is an “uncontrolled airport” with no air traffic control tower.

    FAA:DESCRIPTION N385PH PHI INC AIRCARE FLIGHT 5 EUROCOPTER EC135 ROTORCRAFT COLLIDED MIDAIR WITH N2876L CESSNA C172 AIRCRAFT UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 2 PERSONS IN N2876L CESSNA C172 AIRCRAFT WERE FATALLY INJURED WHEN IT CRASHED IN A FIELD, THE N385PH ROTORCRAFT LANDED WITH NO INJURIES, SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT, WEYERS CAVE, VA

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    Plane Lands due to Electrical Issue

    What: United Airlines/Skywest Canadair CRJ-700
    Where: Tucson
    When: Jan 1, 2011
    Why: On takeoff, the cabin filled with electrical smoke. The odor prompted the crew to make a return to Tucson.

    They made a safe landing with no reported injuries. The cause of the problem has not been reported.

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    Jackson Hole Taxiway Excursion


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Klaus Ecker

    What: American Airlines 757-200 en route from Chicago to Jackson Wyoming
    Where: Jackson Hole Wyoming
    When: December 29, 2010
    Who: 171 passengers, 10 crew
    Why: On landing in snowy Jackson Hole, the pilot announced the brakes were not working properly, and the plane overran the runway nose-first into what is described as a deep snowbank. Jackson Hole had 7 inches of snow overnight and light snow was falling as the plane slid 350 feet past the runway overrun. There were no reports of injury or damage. Passengers disembarked via stairway after airport crews plowed an access route. Traffic was diverted from the runway, as passengers were shuttled to the gate, and snow equipment was engaged to dig the plane out.

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    US Airways Flight Diverts to Boston

    What: U S Airways en route from Rhode Island
    Where: Boston
    When: Dec 27, 2010
    Who: 80 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane developed problems with the wing flaps. The flight diverted to Boston where they made a safe landing at Logan International.

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    Wind River Mountain Crash Kills Day Family

    What: Condor Aero 998 Commander AC 11 en route from Jasper to Jackson.
    Where: 15 to 20 miles southwest of Lander, near Christina Lake, at an elevation of about 11,700 feet in Wyoming Wind River Mountains
    When: Dec. 22 2010
    Who: pilot Ralph Day, 56; his wife Doris Day, 52; and Connor Day, 12
    Why: The Days operated the Day Forestry Appraisal and Management company, and left Jasper planning to visit Yellowstone and then Alaska for the Iditarod.

    Day’s plane struck the top of a steep ridge three feet deep in snow. The plane was not reported missing, and was not located until a passing plane heard the beacon in Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming,

    A helicopter retrieved the bodies on Saturday.

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    Delta Jet Makes Emergency Landing in Syracuse

    What: Delta regional twin engine jet en route from Detroit to Syracuse
    Where: Syracuse New York
    When: Dec 20, 2010
    Who: 52 passengers
    Why: Five miles from its destination in Syracuse, the plane developed an oil pressure problem in one engine indicated by an oil pressure gauge.

    The pilot shut it down and made a safe landing. Passengers disembarked at the gate.

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    Florida Bird Strike

    What: US Airways Boeing 737 en route from Ft Lauderdale
    Where: Ft Lauderdale
    When: Dec 9 2010
    Why: Shortly after takeoff, the US Airways Boeing had a bird strike, and a fireball came out of one of the engines, and it was “blown out.” The plane returned safely to Ft. Lauderdale and landed. There were no injuries except for the bird.

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    American Airlines SF-Hawaii Diverts to LAX

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from San Francisco,CA to Honolulu,HI
    Where: San Francisco
    When: Dec 6th 2010
    Who: 98 passengers
    Why: The plane took off successfully but developed a bleed air problem in the left engine. The bleed air issue is more routine than problematic but dealing with it is certainly a best practice; the crew had to burn off fuel to land, and circled; but then diverted to LAX for the maintenance facilities. On arrival to LAX, passengers were booked onto alternative flights.

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    UA Lands in Casper

    What: United Airlines/Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Denver to Casper
    Where: Casper/Natrona County Airport
    When: 10:30 am
    Who: 43 passengers
    Why: On approach, the plane developed a mechanical problem with its wing flap. The plane landed safely, and was sent to maintenance for work on the wing flaps.

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    Emergency Landing in Little Rock

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757 en route from Boston to Dallas to Los Angeles
    Where: Little Rock National Airport, Arkansas
    When: November 28, 2010
    Who: 165 passengers, 2 pilots, 4 flight crew
    Why: While en route, the plane made 15 explosive bangs, jerking with the impact of each. The engine stalled, and pilots landed the plane safely in Little Rock. When the jet was grounded for maintenance, Passengers transferred to another plane that continued without a problem.

    The issue with the plane is being compared to a car backfire. Unlike a car, a 757 has 2 engines. Normal procedure when an engine is having issues, is to shut down that engine and land with the one remaining engine.

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    Continental: Fuel Leak in South Carolina


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer N94504

    What: Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark to Glasgow, SC
    Where: Glasgow
    When: Nov 24th 2010
    Who: 158 passengers, 8 crew
    Why: On approach to Glasgow, a fuel leak was discovered in the right engine. The pilot landed safely in Glasgow, but the return flight was cancelled, and the plane was scheduled for maintenance.

    George’s Point of View