FLYING LESSONS for January 26, 2012 suggested by this week’s aircraft mishap reports FLYING LESSONS uses the past week’s mishap reports to consider what might have contributed to accidents, so you can make better decisions if you face similar circumstances. In almost all cases design characteristics of a specific make and model airplane have little direct bearing on the possible causes of aircraft accidents, so apply these FLYING LESSONS to any airplane you fly. Verify all technical information before applying it to your aircraft or operation, with manufacturers’ data and recommendations taking precedence. You are pilot in command, and are ultimately responsible for the decisions you make. If you wish to receive the free, expanded FLYING LESSONS report each week, email “subscribe” to
[email protected]. FLYING LESSONS is an independent product of MASTERY FLIGHT TRAINING, INC. www.mastery-flight-training.com This week’s lessons: The alarm sounded continuously for a full 51 seconds before the Socata Trinidad landed gear up on a pretty mountain airstrip. In this video, taken from by a rear-seat passenger, the pilot and at least two passengers are descending into a picturesque paved field nestled between lush green hills. The steep terrain perhaps contributed to the pilot’s decision to approach the field high and pull the power to idle (engine noise gets very quiet, especially on short final) to accommodate the high-angle descent. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD13LmYRQ4s Despite the reduced engine noise, however, the pilot does not appear to notice the high-pitched scream of the landing gear warning horn, which comes on and stays on for almost a full minute before impact.