George Hatcher

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    FAA Proposes $325,000 Civil Penalty Against Southwest Airlines


    The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $325,000 civil penalty against Dallas-based Southwest Airlines for allegedly operating an aircraft that had been improperly modified, violating Federal Aviation Regulations.

    On Aug. 29, 2011, maintenance personnel improperly installed a switch that enables flight crews to test the windshield heating system on a Boeing 717 that AirTran Airways Inc. was operating. Southwest is in the process of merging with AirTran.

    Proper installation of the switch would have allowed personnel to isolate the windshield anti-ice system that was causing a warning that the windshield heater was failing. Instead, the center and left windshield warning systems were reversed. The right windshield warning system continued to operate properly. The aircraft was operated on 1,140 passenger flights before the problem was corrected.

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    Two Days, Three Crashes, Four Dead, Four Missing


    Monday, a pilot and passenger were killed after the Mexican plane took off from Nuevo Leon and crashed in Veracruz.

    On Tuesday, a Cessna took off from Mina International and crashed in Tampico, Tamaulipas, killing the pilot and passenger.

    Also on Tuesday, a jet en route to Cozumel crashed in the Atlantic. All four of those aboard were recovered three miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale.

    Initially, in two days there were three crashes, four fatalities and four missing. However two bodies have been found—pilot Josué Buendía Moreno and nurse Mariana González Isunza,—bringing the total dead to 6. Two Mexican men—pilot Hiram Galván de la O and Doctor Fernando Senties Nieto—are still missing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. The search of the 4,000 square miles debris field has been called off. Over 1000 lbs of wreckage has been recovered.

    Read More

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    Jet Blue Flight Pins Attendant

    On Nov 20, 2013, a JetBlue Embraer ERJ-190 to Boston from Fort Myers diverted to Orlando when an emergency slide emitted a loud bang, and deployed itself in the front galley of the plane.

    There were four crew aboard and seventy-three passengers aboard flight B6-1266 who set out for Boston and ended up in Orlando. Passengers were evacuated in Orlando and transferred to a plane that didn’t have an emergency slide in the front galley pinning a flight attendant to the wall.

    The flight attendant did not suffocate, but was assisted in freeing his head, apparently.

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    SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN: CE-14-04


    SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN: CE-14-04
    Notice Number: NOTC5068

    SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN

    SAIB: CE-14-04

    Flight Management Computing Systems; Navigation Database Updates – Data and Procedural Exclusions

    Date: November 22, 2013

    Introduction
    This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is written to inform and remind owners and operators about changes contained in manufacturers’ navigation database updates. The cyclical updates may exclude certain navigation data including approach procedures, which makes this information unavailable for selection on the aircraft flight management system or navigation equipment.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined that the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39. The FAA continues to monitor these issues with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

    Background
    The FAA occasionally has received inquiries regarding missing data within the aircraft’s flight management system or navigation unit. In many scenarios, a pilot has attempted to select or load a particular approach, but is unable to do so and must determine an alternative in flight. This has often led to confusion and questions about how or why the data appears to be missing.

    From time-to-time, avionics manufacturers may exclude procedures from the aviation database. The causes driving such removals vary, and while some data may be reinstated one cycle later, other data may remain excluded for longer periods of time.
    It is important to note that each avionics manufacturer processes the aeronautical data differently, and procedures excluded on one aircraft or system may not be excluded on another. Avionics manufacturers make data exclusion information available to their customers for consideration before use of affected data in flight operations. Exclusions can frequently be found on the avionics manufacturer’s internet website or may be published in another format as part of the new database cycle.

    Recommendations
    The FAA recommends that pilots do the following:
    1) Become familiar with the most appropriate location where they can find information regarding exclusions from the database that can affect their flight operations.

    2) Exercise diligence in their preflight planning by staying informed about data exclusions pertaining to the type of avionics they utilize.

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    Honduras Crash in Rio Abajo


    A Bell 407 helicopter carrying Honduran political candidate Juan Hernandez to a rally in Juticalpa developed mechanical problems.

    The helicopter made noises indicating problems, fell, and lost its tail in Rio Abajo, Guaymaca. No injuries were reported of the six aboard: Hernandez, wife Ana Garcia, the president of Honduras, Rafael Leonardo Callejas, mayor of Tegucigalpa, Ricardo Alvarez and campaign coordinator, Oscar Alvarez.

    The helicopter crashed from low altitude. No cause has been determined for the accident. Hernandez continued on the campaign trail in another chopper.

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    Cirrus Crash Report Released

    The NTSB has released a report on the Sept. 25 Cirrus SR20 plane crash that killed Dr. Narayan Venguswamy, a Kentucky surgeon, and his wife, Jay Venguswamy.

    The plane touched down several times before it finally left the runway, veered left, descended and struck a tree, light pole and bank parking lot. Narayan Venguswamy was hospitalized at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital and then Loyola University Medical Center, where he died of burns. Jay died at the scene.

    The Preliminary Report is below:


    NTSB Identification: CEN13FA558
    14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
    Accident occurred Wednesday, September 25, 2013 in Bolingbrook, IL
    Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20, registration: N406DC
    Injuries: 2 Fatal.
    This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

    On September 25, 2013, about 1715 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N406DC, impacted terrain after executing a go-around near Bolingbrook’s Clow International Airport, (1C5), Bolingbrook, Illinois. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to GDK International LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Georgetown Scott County Airport (27K), Georgetown, Kentucky about 1500 and was destined for 1C5.

    The airplane was captured on 1C5 airport surveillance cameras while attempting to land. A review of the video showed that the airplane touched down multiple times about half way down the runway. The airplane was observed making a left turn after takeoff, descending, and then proceeding out of camera view.

    Witnesses reported seeing the airplane depart the runway and make a left turn at a low altitude. The airplane continued to descend, struck a tree and a light pole before impacting a parking lot and sidewalk. A post impact fire ensued and consumed most of the airplane.

    The automated weather reporting station at Lewis University Airport which was 5 miles south of the accident site reported at 1715: wind from 070 degrees at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, temperature 21 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 9 degrees C, and a barometric pressure 29.94 inches of mercury.

    During the on-scene examination investigators confirmed flight control continuity and that the flaps were in the retracted position. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) rocket and parachute were found in the main wreckage. The position of the CAPS activation handle could not be verified due to thermal damage. The parachute was found in a packed state and received thermal damage. The CAPS activation cable was examined and no stretching was found.

    The airframe and engine were retained for further examination.

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    Student Pilot Crash in Jalisco Mexico


    On an October 30, 2013 training flight, a Centro de Capacitacion Aereo Michoacan Cessna 152 out of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport lost power over Cajititian lake.

    The pilot made a crash landing beside the lake. The pilot Andres Gonzalez, 20, tried to land in an unpopulated area when the plane developed a mechanical problem in the engine.

    Emergency responders included firefighters and paramedics from Tiajomulco and El Salto. Gonzalez suffered only minor injuries.

    la Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (Civil Aviation Directorate) will be investigating the incident in Cajititlán, Jalisco, Mexico.

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    Nashville: Cessna Crash


    On October 29, 2013, a Windsor Flying Club Cessna 172R Skyhawk crash landed at Nashville International Airport, killing the pilot. There was dense fog early Tuesday morning when the crash occurred, and the airport was closed. The crash occurred some time between 2:00 a.m. (the final sweep of the runways) and its discovery at 8:45 a.m. by a taxiing jet pilot.

    The plane is one of three belonging to Canada’s Windsor Flying Club school fleet.

    National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said that the plane sat on the runway for hours before it was discovered Tuesday morning. The crash apparently occurred Monday night. Metro Police, Metro Fire and Metro OEM, the medical examiner, and an accident investigator from National Transportation Safety Board responded belatedly. The accident occurred on Runway 2, which was closed on discovery of the wreckage. Operations at the rest of the airport continued as usual.

    The FAA is on the scene. The pilot was in his mid forties, was night-rated but not instrument-rated (i.e. he was not cleared to fly in low visibility like the dense fog that blanketed Nashville.) His name has not been released. He rented the plane from Monday 8.pm. to Tuesday noon.

    The investigation has not yet determined if the pilot made the required contact with ATC. The plane as no flight data recorder but it does have gps and current instrumentation.

    See Video Below

    Nashville Airport Statement

    As reported yesterday by Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA), a small single-engine Cessna-172 crashed at Nashville International Airport on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. The Airport Emergency Plan requires MNAA to notify the National Transportation Safety Board in the event of an accident and the NTSB begins an investigation to determine the probable cause of the accident and other facts related to it. This investigation is now underway and the NTSB will issue a preliminary report in 10 days and a final report in 9 – 12 months.

    Importantly, the time of the crash has not been determined and reports to the contrary are not factual. These facts will be determined as part of the NTSB investigation.

    Following is a statement from MNAA:

    “The MNAA’s top priority is the safety and security of all operations at the airport. As an FAA certificated airport, MNAA is required to comply with the FAA’s safety standards. MNAA has long maintained a strong record of safety and follows stringent federal safety regulations. We are inspected annually by FAA safety inspectors to ensure compliance. We uphold these regulations every day, including yesterday. We have inspectors and crash, fire and rescue personnel on duty 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to respond in the event of any emergency.

    “MNAA is working collaboratively with the FAA and NTSB as they investigate the accident and determine the facts. It would be premature to comment about any facts involving this accident until the NTSB completes its investigation. All of us at the airport express heartfelt condolences to the family of the pilot involved in this accident.”

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    Bell Helicopter Crashes in Oregon


    Around noon on Oct 28, a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter carrying two Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife employees who were conducting fish counts (counting spawning nests, also called redds) crashed in the South Umpqua River near Days Creek. Both passengers and the pilot were conscious.

    Power lines were damaged, and the plane was leaking fuel. Three hundred twenty people lost electricity. The FAA and the NTSB will be on hand to check out the accident. A hazmat team handled the fuel leak.

    Two passengers, Holly Huchko, 34 and Eric Himmelreich, 35 were taken to Mercy Hospital in Roseburg, and the pilot to Sacred Heart at Riverbend. Huchko broke her back, Himmelreich broke a vertebra and the pilot, Fred Wittlake, broke an arm and some ribs.

    The Umpqua Fish District office counts fish to help determine fishing regulation.

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    Rans Crash in Leicestershire

    On July 14, 2013, a privately owned Rans S-6 en route from an airfield near Tywcross Zoo to Stoke Golding airfield crashed in Fenn Lane, Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire with two aboard.

    The Rans plane crashed in a field in Leicestershire. Witnesses heard a bang from the aircraft, the engine quit. The plane glided along, banked right and left, then crashed.

    The plane was located at Fenny Drayton at about 18:45 BST on Sunday. The man and woman aboard were confirmed dead at the scene, found by emergency responders.

    The Air Accident Investigations Branch is investigating.

    The fatalities were informally identified as Bob and Olive.

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    MIG 21 plane crash in Rajasthan

    On July 15, 2013, at about 0930 hours, a vintage MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of IAF crashed on Monday while landing at Uttarlai Airbase in western Rajasthan. The pilot who was flying the plane died in the crash.

    The Indian Air Force fighter crashed while landing at Uttarlai Air Base, Rajasthan. The pilot had been on a routine training flight. The pilot failed to eject from the plane.

    A Court of Inquiry will be investigating.

    See Indian News Video

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    273 Korean Air Passengers Wait in Plane when Diverted to Russia

    July 2, 2013, a Korean Air Boeing 777 with 273 passengers aboard was en route from Chicago to Seoul when it had a drop in pressure as jet fuel was being pumped into the engine. The left engine broke down. After the malfunction, the pilots dumped fuel and diverted to Anadyr airport in Russia, where they made an emergency landing.

    Passengers had to wait inside the plane until the replacement jet arrived, so that with ten hours on the ground made a 13 hour flight almost 24 hours long for passengers.

    The malfunctioning jet was grounded in Russia pending inspection.

    In George’s Point of View

    I’d like to consider two additional points for those passengers stuck on their plane:

    As Anadyr airport is not one we have visited, we wonder if there is no Customs facility at Anadyr airport for individuals without visas to get some relief from the plane, which had to be exceedingly uncomfortable. Certainly there must be some humane way to abide by international law.

    This excessive time stretches some IATA standards of passenger accommodation from both airline and airport. The question isn’t whether passengers are entitled to some kind of compensation for their time and trouble, but rather how the airline and airport are going to recompense the passengers.

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    NTSB TO ASSIST AFGHAN AUTHORITIES WITH INVESTIGATION INTO BAGRAM CARGO PLANE CRASH


    The National Transportation Safety Board will lead a team to assist the Afghanistan Ministry of Transportation and Commercial Aviation in the investigation of a cargo plane crash at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

    NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator Tim LeBaron will be the U.S. accredited representative. He will lead a team of three additional investigators from the NTSB as well as representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and The Boeing Company.

    The private cargo plane, a Boeing 747-400 operated by National Air Cargo, crashed just after takeoff from the U.S.-operated air base at 11:20 a.m. local time Monday. All seven crewmembers onboard were killed and the airplane destroyed. The seven crew members were all American citizens. The accident site is within the perimeter of Bagram Air Base.

    The international cargo flight was destined for Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    The Afghanistan Ministry of Transportation and Commercial Aviation is leading the investigation and will be the sole source of information regarding the investigation. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, they can be reached at (873) 68 2341450 / 49 or by fax at (873) 68 1280784.

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    Two planes collide over Westlake Village


    A Cessna 172 and a Cessna 172RG Cutlass collided over Westlake Village eight miles east northeast of Ventura.

    The Cutlass, registered to Ameriflyers of Florida LLC made an emergency landing on the Westlake Golf Course, Westlake Village, California. Three aboard sustained minor injuries in a belly landing at 2:15 p.m. near the third hole. They were hospitalized with minor injuries.

    The second plane crashed in the Santa Monica Mountains, sparking a brush fire and a search and rescue effort. The pilot was found under the wreckage.

    One of the planes had left Santa Monica Airport on an engine test flight and was heading east when it collided with the other.

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    Wizz Air Airbus Turns Back

    On April 28, 2013, a Wizz Air Airbus A320-232 took off from Warsaw then descended rapidly from about 11000ft.

    Passengers smelled smoke. A passenger named Barbara was quoted (machine translation) “Zachybota?o plane dropped like a machine. Then I felt a burning smell. Other passengers can feel it. After a while we went to the employee. Were informed that there was a failure”

    Pilots notified ATC and turned around to return to Chopin Airport. The airport said that Pilots said this was not an emergency landing.

    There were 161 passengers aboard. They disembarked without any problem, and were provided a later Wizz flight to London.

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    Two Gliders Crash in New South Wales

    Two gliders, one of which was a Let L-13A1 Blaník, collided in New South Wales in a rural area in Carrick, near Goulburn. The incoming glider clipped the tail of the two-seater which nose-dived to the ground.

    One 72-year-old pilot, a member of Southern Tablelands Gliding Club, landed his glider safely.

    The fifty year old pilot of the other glider died on impact with the ground. His 70 year-old passenger had to be extricated from the back seat of the aircraft. He sustained major injuries and was airlifted to Liverpool Hospital.

    The accident occurred at 3.40pm on April 27, 2013.

    Emergency services, including Ambulance, Police, Towrang RFS and Police Rescue responded.

    The pilots were experienced. The ground crew including the winch operator and pilots of both gliders were on the same radio network but the club is “mystified” why the accident occurred.

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    NTSB Assisting in Lion Air Boeing Investigation

    In George’s Point of View


    As I stand here on the balcony of my Cancun suite snapping a video of a gathering far below on the beach, the force of the wind off the ocean nearly knocks me off my feet.

    Yes, my Air Crash Consultant mind is at work, even when I’m relaxing on a vacation.

    I can’t help but think of the Lion Air Boeing that came down on approach to Ngurah Rai Airport and cracked in two on impact with the ocean. It didn’t fall far in terms of being a plane. I have heard it was flying 100 feet below where it should have been, which makes me wonder if the same winds that are knocking me over contributed to the crash. Trust the investigation to uncover the truth of what made this brand new plane to be a write off. It’s still a miracle of engineering that there were no fatalities, and only 45 injuries, and of those, only five still hospitalized one day later.

    The NTSB is joining the investigation, important enough news that it is announced on a Sunday.


    The NTSB is sending a team of investigators to assist the government of Indonesia on its accident investigation of a Lion Air Boeing 737-800.

    On April 13, 2013 at about 3:15 p.m. local time, the airplane crashed on approach to Ngurah Rai Airport, due to unknown circumstances. There were no fatalities reported.

    As the U.S. is the state of design and manufacture of the Boeing 737, NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman has appointed Senior Air Safety Investigator Dennis Jones as the traveling U.S. accredited representative. Dennis Jones is leading a team of investigators specializing in airplane structures, systems, and survival factors, as well as advisers from the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing.

    The investigation is being conducted by the Indonesia National Transportation Safety Committee which will release all information.

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    A Word about Safety, Brazil and Towers

    In George’s Point of View

    With aviation safety issues buzzing in the US because of the widespread tower closures, I was surprised to find US safety being held as a higher standard in a critique of Brazilian aviation by pilot Antônio Carlos Cruzeta.

    His article at *http://paduim.blogspot.com/2013/02/relato-de-um-piloto-de-linha-aerea.html pillories the conditions of flying in Brazil, even compares the pilot to driving a luxury BMW in the middle of a safari in Africa.

    But I cannot but wonder if even as this pilot pushes for progress in Brazil, we in the US are bound to be falling back. Will it take an aviation disaster here to wake up our government that we need to maintain our current standards of safety?

    A Brazilian pilot can ask that question, and so can we. How can pilots continue to fly millions of passengers millions of flights in state-of-the-art planes when losing so many towers? And now there are lawsuits piling up as localities begin legal battles to keep their towers. Should tower support be withdrawn, leaving pilots to “fly by the seat of their pants?” What do US pilots think of this withdrawal of support? DO pilots consider towers extraneous?

    Three hours or so from home the ride from Rio was unusually turbulent. Though I slept all the way to Houston this time, will I be so confident in the future? I worry for the state aviation safety as thousands of pilots converge flying to and from airports where tower support was once but is no longer.

    Closures

    *English translation here: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fpaduim.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F02%2Frelato-de-um-piloto-de-linha-aerea.html

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    Boeing Solution Discussed by CEO Jim McNerney

    At the US Chamber of Commerce’s aviation summit, Jim McNerney, the CEO of Boeing, said the expects the technical solution being tested now will resolve the 787’s battery system’s problem and return to flying soon.

    The Dreamliner was grounded January 16.

    Video Below

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    Lot Airlines Temporary Boeing Fix


    Pending solutions for the incidents involving the aircraft’s lithium-ion battery produced by Tokyo- based GS Yuasa Corp, while waiting for Boeing 787’s to come out of hibernation, from April 12 to the end of May Lot Airlines is leasing an Airbus SAS from Portugal’s Hi Fly. The A330 flies 18 in business and 288 in coach.

    Lot purchased 8 eight 787s, and has received two, one of which is Warsaw, and the other stranded in Chicago.

    If Dreamliner operations remain suspended beyond that date, the lease can be extended

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    Sriwijaya Runway Overrun

    On March 27, a Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 en route from Medan to Padang had a runway overrun when landing at Padang at 18:00.

    The plane came to rest past the end of the (8860 feet) pavement.

    The Sriwijaya Boeing that skidded and closed the runway at Minangkabau International Airport on Wednesday 3/27/2013 has been successfully evacuated and moved across the airport apron.

    Minangkabau Airport flight activity is now running normally.

    There were no injuries when the aircraft registered as PK-CLJ skidded off the runway.

    The number of passengers aboard was not released.

    src: http://www.indo-aviation

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    Germanwings Airbus Diverts to Prague

    While a Germanwings Airbus A319-112 was en route from Moscow to Stuttgart, the plane issued warnings. Pilots diverted to Prague-Vaclav Havel (Ruzyne) Airport in the Czech Republic.

    Airport fire and rescue services responded to the scene according to the airport air crash consultant spokesperson

    THere were 144 passengers and five crew aboard the Airbus A320. There were no injuries reported on landing.

    A replacement plane was sent from Cologne.