Aero-Tips!
A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard
this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer
statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of
"there are no old, bold pilots.")
Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner,
master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us
-- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you
may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be
something we might never have considered before, or something that
didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized
it for the practical test.
Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you
through the Aero-News Network.
Aero-Tips 10.26.06
Note: Speculation on cause factors in two
events cited in this article is based solely on media reports.
Official investigation may determine other factors contributed to
each mishap. Nonetheless there is a lesson to be learned from this
speculation.
FAA preliminary report
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 929CD Make/Model: SR20
Description: SR-20
Date: 10/11/2006 Time: 1841
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Damage:
Destroyed
LOCATION
City: NEW YORK State: NY Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT CRASHED INTO A HIGH RISE BUILDING IN MANHATTAN UNDER
UNKNOWN
CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED AND 16
PERSONS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE BUILDING SUSTAINED UNKNOWN
INJURIES, NEW YORK, NY
FAA preliminary report
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 9130N Make/Model: PA46
Description: PA-46
Date: 10/19/2006 Time: 1945
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Damage:
Destroyed
LOCATION
City: FORT MEADE State: MD Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA 1/4 MILE FROM DEPARTURE END OF
RUNWAY 23 SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF FROM TIPTON AIRPORT, FORT MEADE,
MD
Airspace as a contributing factor
Controlled-access airspace appears to be a contributing factor
in both these mishaps. In the SR20 crash, which received widespread
coverage because of the pilot involved (some of the most objective
coverage was on ESPN, the sports network), the airplane was flying
in a commonly-used VFR corridor between and beneath Class B
airspace. It appears the collision with a building occurred while
the pilot and his instructor were attempting to reverse course at
the end of the corridor without penetrating the Class B
airspace.
The Malibu accident is making the rounds in aviation
circles because of airspace issues as well. Initial reports are
that the flight departed VFR under a reported 1200-foot overcast
with five miles' visibility, with intent to pick up an IFR
clearance in the air. Unique in this case, however, is that the
flight originated from an airpoirt within the Washington DC Air
Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which requires positive control
from the ground up, including use of a discrete transponder code.
The option of departing VFR to obtain a clearance in the air does
not exist in the Washington ADIZ. Upon initial contact with
controllers the pilot was advised of this airspace bust and
directed to return to the departure airport immediately. The Piper
subsequently crashed while attempting to land. Aircraft association
speculation is widespread that the pilot was so distracted by the
possible implications of the airspace bust (which include loss of
pilot privileges, any number of court actions, and possibly even
being shot down) that he lost control of the aircraft, leading to
the crash.
Emergency authority
FAR 91.3 tells us:
In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the
pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the
extent required to meet that emergency...
This includes the option of "busting" airspace if such is
necessary for the safe outcome of the flight. In the New York
Cirrus incident a turn into the Class B airspace, or a climb into
the Class B above, would surely have been less risky than the
actual outcome. Make the climb or turn, make the radio call and
sort it out with the Feds later. In the Fort Meade Mirage crash the
pilot could have immediately declared an emergency upon learning he
was in violation of the ADIZ, then asked for priority handling
through landing. This might have slowed things down enough that the
pilot avoided some of the rush that appears to have contributed to
his demise.
Aero-tip of the day: There's no excuse for poor
planning that results in an airspace bust. But if you find yourself
in a position where it cannot be avoided, (1) FLY THE PLANE, (2)
enter the controlled airspace to the extent necessary to assure a
safe outcome, and (3) declare an emergency to give you the 91.3
authority to be in that airspace. Survive to work out the details
later.