Update on Fatal Buffalo Crash
Analysis of flight data points away from severe aircraft icing as a key factor in the Feb. 12 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo, NY in which 49 people onboard the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 and one person on the ground perished. The data "shows that some ice accumulation was likely... [read more]
Emergency AD for Sikorsky S-92
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) which grounds Sikorsky S-92A helicopters until a certain component in the drive train has been replaced. The FAA issued the directive March 23, saying titanium mounting studs on the helicopter have to be replaced...
Emergency AD for Bell Choppers
A superseding Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) has been issued by the FAA to correct the applicability of Emergency AD 2009-07-51 issued on March 17, 2009. The Emergency AD requires, before further flight, inspecting each cyclic control lever assembly (lever assembly) to determine if it is correctly...
Concerns Over Cabin Crew Rest
While much has been written about fatigue on the flight deck, crew rest for flight attendants serving in the passenger cabin is also getting an airing as a result of congressional concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration -- in the face of a lawsuit lodged by U.S. airlines -- recently withdrew a proposal...
Delay Seen in Full Air Cargo Checks
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) faces major obstacles in meeting a congressionally imposed deadline to check all cargo on passenger aircraft flying in the United States, according to a recently released study. The report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), says the TSA may not...
The Importance of Human Factors Training
Incidents such as the recent ditching of a US Airways Airbus A320 in the Hudson River after a bird strike and subsequent double engine shutdown is one reason why airlines undertake human factors training for their pilots. This, according to a Australiasian-based human factors training specialist, Werner...
US Airways to Rejoin ASAP Program
US Airways and the union representing its more than 4,000 pilots have agreed to rejoin the FAA's voluntary Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) created to reduce the industry's accidents rate. The U.S. air carrier and the US Airline Pilots Association chose to reinstate the ASAP after modifications were...
University Student Develops Smoother Chopper Ride
Carleton engineering student Kostyantyn Khomutov is using his master's degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering to test and launch a new system that will drastically reduce vibration and noise on helicopter blades and wind turbines. "This innovative, first-of-its-kind technology will enable a...
Catch a Falling Star
Cessna Aircraft is standing behind its SkCatcher program despite two test flight accidents that cast doubt on the smaller trainers safety. On March 19, a Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) parachute deployment was used to save the sole remaining Cessna SkyCatcher (N162CE) after a flight test was ended by an...
Safety & Technology Trends
Inventor of G-Suit Dies Earl Wood, M.D., Ph.D., the Mayo Clinic investigator credited with inventing the high-altitude pressure suit worn by pilots and astronauts, died March 18 in Rochester, MN. He was 97. His top secret work laid the foundation for the science behind modern aerospace physiology and made...
Safety Rules & Regs
Emergency Airworthiness Directive. March 23, 2009 AD 2009-07-53.Sikorsky S-92.This Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by the failure of two main gearbox filter bowl assembly mounting studs (studs) that were found broken during a fatal accident investigation in Canada. Prior to the accident...
Accidents & Incidents
Date Aircraft Type Narrative Death/Injury Remarks Feb 12 2009 Porter, TX BEECH 95-A55 N9648Y A/c sustained substantial damage when collided with trees and terrain W of Runway 17 at Williams Airport (9X1). Two fatalities The a/c lifted above the tree line on S end of runway, made sharp roll to right and nose...
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