Experimental A/C Safety

[TomVal]

Today my friend lost his Rocket due to an engine fire shortly after takeoff. He was able to get it down on the runway. He and his RV8 owner passenger safely egressed. Aircraft destroyed by fire.

This happened at Gillespie Field (KSEE), San Diego

[SteveinIndy]

Glad to hear everyone is safe but what a tragedy to lose such a fine aircraft.

[Flybuddy2]

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2011

************************************************** **********

NTSB UNDERTAKES COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-
BUILT (E-AB) AIRCRAFT SAFETY
Seeks input from E-AB pilots and builders

************************************************** **********

WASHINGTON - The National Transportation Safety Board has
launched a study of accidents involving E-AB (sometimes
called homebuilt) aircraft in order to evaluate the safety
of this growing and innovative segment of general aviation.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) will support the
project by hosting a web-based survey for E-AB owners of the
aircraft; their survey findings will be shared with the
NTSB.

?Going all the way back to the Wright brothers, amateur
aircraft builders have played a crucial and inspirational
role in leading the way towards greater achievements in
manned flight,? said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. ?We
are pleased to be working with EAA towards the shared goal
of improving safety in this particularly innovative sector
of general aviation.?

Of the approximately 224,000 general aviation (GA) aircraft
in the U.S., about 33,000 of them are classified as E-AB.
This includes a wide variety of aircraft, which can be built
from a prefabricated kit, existing plans, or a builder?s
unique design. Unfortunately, this group of aircraft has,
for several years, experienced accident rates greater than
those of other comparable segments of GA. The NTSB and EAA
are collaborating to identify how to improve that record.

The study will look at a range of issue areas, including
builder assistance programs; transition training for pilot-
builders of E-ABs; flight test and certification
requirements; maintenance of E-AB aircraft; and the
performance and failures of systems, structures, and power
plants.

?Earlier studies have looked at isolated E-AB safety issues,
but this is the first study to comprehensively examine both
the building and piloting of these unique aircraft,? said
Joseph M. Kolly, Director of the NTSB Office of Research and
Engineering. ?And the direct input from E-AB owners and
others involved in the design and day-to-day operations of
these aircraft will be of enormous value in understanding
all of the aspects that play a role in the safety of
experimental flight operations.?

The EAA will be collecting survey data this summer.
Operators, builders, and owners of E-AB aircraft who are
interested in participating in the survey should go to
www.EAA.org/AB-Survey.

The completed safety study is expected to be published by
the fall of 2012.

###

NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson
(202) 314-6100
peter.knudson@ntsb.gov

I found the survey link here:

http://www.zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurve...7&key=2E8A8A4C

IMO, the issues with the NALL report which is driving this are as follows:

1) many aircraft lumped into experimental category that are not homebuilts
2) bad data on certifieds--they list nearly 200,000 registered aircraft in this category BUT many are ramp/hangar queens or simply parts.
Look up your area in the FAA registry and note the folks owning 5 or 10 aircraft which are nothing but salvage or parts
3) bad data on experimentals--in addition to listing many older certifieds under the experimental category, the hours flown were grossly
understated.
4) the nature of homebuilts includes faster, aerobatic planes that are not used in the same manner as Cessnas, Pipers, etc.
5) Test flying period included in experimentals but not certifieds
6) alternative engines and one off designs are not something seen in certifieds

[GalinHdz]

I completed the survey in about 10 minutes. These kinds of survey can significantly help the entire Experimental Aircraft fleet.

[GalinHdz]

I took the NTSB survey and completed it in about 10minutes.

http://www.zipsurvey.com/LaunchSurve...7&key=2E8A8A4C

This kind of survey can help the entire experimental aircraft fleet.

[TomVal]

Originally Posted by DAGO

Today my friend lost his Rocket due to an engine fire shortly after takeoff. He was able to get it down on the runway. He and his RV8 owner passenger safely egressed. Aircraft destroyed by fire.

This happened at Gillespie Field (KSEE), San Diego

Photo of plane:

[IMG][/IMG]

[KPmarc]

I just completed it as well.

BTW, I'm in total agreement about the poor quality of the NALL report and the shoddy data reduction used for that piece. We as an industry need to continue calling for an improved, much more accurate database or we'll keep getting dinged for accidents that aren't related to Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft.

[Mel]

Originally Posted by KPmarc

I just completed it as well.

BTW, I'm in total agreement about the poor quality of the NALL report and the shoddy data reduction used for that piece. We as an industry need to continue calling for an improved, much more accurate database or we'll keep getting dinged for accidents that aren't related to Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft.

Ditto Marc's post in entirety! Uh-Oh, Here I am agreeing with the Boss. Is that acceptable?

[jrs14855]

Here is the problem: Just a four day sample from FAA website.
12 incidents/accidents
several were insignificant incidents
two struck powerlines-this has nothing to do with ab or certified
Velocity landed gear up, again it could have been a Bonanza or Commanche
A Panzl aerobatic airplane lost an aileron during an airshow, landed safely. This aircraft was probably Experimental Exhibition, if not it should have been.
There were, in my opinilon, only two significant accidents/incidents out of the 12, a RV9 flip and a Lancair 4P fatal.
I don't care what people do with powered parachutes and N numbered untralights, etc. These are NOT ab aircraft and should not be reported as such.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by Mel

Ditto Marc's post in entirety! Uh-Oh, Here I am agreeing with the Boss. Is that acceptable?

Took me less time than Marc....does that put me in trouble with the boss?

This looks like a much more useful survey than many I have taken - it would be nice if it got HUGE participation!