Black Box Flight Training

This is a good short read for pilots on training as well as those of us who are certificated.

The Crash That Changed Flight Training Forever — and Why It Hasn’t Made Pilots Much Safer Today

Fifteen years ago, the stall warning system on a Bombardier Q400 sounded as the aircraft approached Buffalo, New York. The captain responded by increasing the angle of attack slightly and adding some power. The first officer then retracted the flaps. Moments later, the Q400 stalled, entered a spin, and crashed — killing all 50 people aboard. Four others on the ground were seriously injured.

In the aftermath to this Colgan Air Flight 3407 accident, the FAA issued Advisory Circular (AC) 120-109, which fundamentally changed stall recovery procedures forever. The new guidance emphasized aerodynamic principles rather than altitude preservation. The required recovery steps are:

1. At the first indication of a stall or aerodynamic buffet, immediately reduce the angle of attack to break the stall.

2. Advance the throttles to climb power.

3. Retract flaps incrementally only after a positive rate of climb is established.

Yet despite these changes, stall/spin accidents remain the leading cause of fatal aircraft crashes today.

Why? Because old habits die hard. During checkrides, examiners still see pilot applicants add partial power first, then announce, “I’m lowering the nose to the horizon” — but often without actually reducing the angle of attack enough to unstall the wing. This can lead to a secondary stall, something the FAA specifically warns can occur if power is added before reducing AOA.

Takeaway: There is no FAA standard for altitude loss during stall recovery. The first and only priority at stall onset is to reduce the angle of attack enough to break the stall. Then — and only then — add power, and clean up the flaps once a positive rate of climb is established. Altitude loss is acceptable; failing to recover is not.

Please don’t be another stall/spin statistic — follow the correct procedure.

Fly safe, friends. ✈️

Anti-authority as cited in the report is an issue, unfortunately no amount of pilot training can teach you to use your head for more than a headset holder.

Minimums are there for a reason.

Procedures are there for a reason.

Fly safe my friends.

On the NTSB final report for N707MM, Mike Patey’s Lancair Legacy.

In my personal opinion Mike Patey has vision. He pushes the limit of design and performance in aircraft. That said this is disappointing to read. I am very surprised at what appears to be a lack of overall conscience in the assembly and operation of this aircraft.

I think this shows we are all subject to hazardous attitudes, anti-authority, macho and specifically invulnerability.

“A review of the purchase documentation revealed that the operator knowingly purchased the engine in unserviceable condition and only performed a periodic inspection before flight.”

A brief summary of pertinent information from the NTSB final through the link below.

https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/318296 i

Incident Lancair Legacy 2000 N707MM, Thursday 20 July 2023 On July 20, 2023, at about 1:42pm local time, a Lancair Legacy airplane, registration number N707MM, powered by a single Pratt & Whiteny Canada PT6A-42 turbo-propeller engine experienced ...

Truth.

73 years young and still running full throttle. Sean Tucker’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious.

Sean Tucker Air Show Pilot Flying Intermediate Competition Tracy CA 31 May We are ALWAYS learning!IAC Acro Contest. Tracy CA. 31 MayRamp Tour: https://youtu.be/aSY_76Oopps

There is no meeting, appointment or trip worth dying for. There is so much information about weather, traffic etc available we should be more prepared than ever. However, there is no way to teach good judgement.

Fly safe friends.

Accident Case Study: Fair Weather Flier On July 28, 2020, a non-instrument-rated pilot flew straight into a line of thunderstorms just north of Gulf Shores, Alabama.Join the AOPA Air Safety Institu...

Ridiculously dangers choices that led to the exact outcome one should expect.

We look to the sky and dream…..

Photo credit: Jennifer Summers

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Adding an AOA indicator to your aircraft adds a great tool to help maintain situational awareness inflight. It’s a relatively low cost and easy to install.

The FAA Recommends AOA Indicators For All Aircraft The FAA published a bulletin that recommends AOA systems be installed as standard equipment.