Home       Features       Site Map      Français

Arrow
Arrow
Slider

How Good is Your Walk Around?

(Photo and story excerpts courtesy of GASIL 2/98, The CAA Accident Prevention Leaflet).

After a very thorough pre-flight, the right seat pilot removed his jacket as he stood on the wing, secured some equipment in the aircraft and sat in his seat…OOPS. The happy crew taxied for departure and, after the power checks were done, took off. At a height of about 20 ft., the aircraft suddenly developed a severe nose-down attitude accompanied by significant buffeting that could be felt through the control column. Air traffic control (ATC) was advised and an immediate return was made. Flaps were selected gradually, and they improved the handling of the aircraft. After touchdown, ATC advised they could see a coat or a sack wrapped around the right-hand elevator. It was, of course, the co-pilot’s jacket that was draped across the tail. The pilot said the weight on the control column was immense, and control was difficult even in gentle turns. The UK Civil Aviation Authority commented that an HS 748 crashed after a door became detached and lodged on the tailplane, and said that an aircraft tailplane is very sensitive to disturbed airflow of any sort, including that produced by the accumulation of ice or even frost.

Self-Paced Recency
Aviation Safety Newsletter
Emergency Operations
Smart Pilot Seminars
Features
Drones
General Aviation Safety
AOPA Flight Training
Ask ATS
Winter Flying
Fuel Management
Float Planes
Upset Training
Fit to Fly
ELTs
SAR

Pilot Resources

Ask ATS

Ask ATS

Have questions about ATS? In partnership with NAV CANADA, SmartPilot.ca is getting you answers!

Read More

Weather

Weather

Do you have the proper weather to fly? View local and national forecasts.

Read More

TSB

TSB

The Transportation Safety Board is an independent agency that advances transportation safety by investigating occurrences.

Read More

Interactive

Interactive Materials

Check out SmartPilot's online courses and other interactive learning materials.

Read More

NOTAMs

NOTAMs

Check out the latest NOTAMs from NAV Canada.

Read More

ASI

Air Safety Institute

Browse through ASI's free safety education and research designed to make you a better pilot from home!

Read More

ELTs

ELTs

Learn about the next generation in SAR.

Read More

ASL

Aviation Safety Letter

Articles include aviation safety, safety insight derived from accidents & incidents, safety information.

Read More

SmartPilot proudly works with.

aopa logocopa logoeaa logo

sar logo

We would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for this initiative through the Search and Rescue New Initiative Fund (SAR NIF).