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  #1  
Old 01-04-2012, 07:34 PM
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Walt Walt is online now
 
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Default Special Safety tip Notice from the FAA

This is a good reminder to make sure you Don't take your condtion inspection for granted, and have another set of eyes look at with you. Most often, as the builder, you are blind to the errors you built into your own aircraft. I just thought this was a good example of inspection program that didn't work, finally someone actually "looked" and caught this before it turned ugly.

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Special Safety Tip
Notice Number: NOTC3434

Here we have an excellent example of an accident that did not happen!
While an alert IA (or mechanic) discovered the discrepancy, it appears multiple mechanics and IAs missed "seeing" the incorrect installation. Initially, someone made the incorrect installation, and an Inspector missed it! This example can serve as a reminder that mechanics and Inspectors need to be diligent in performing their work.

As pilots and owners, we need to encourage mechanics not to shortcut any inspections! Our very lives may depend upon it!

You can review this December Maintenance Alert here: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/noti...utterbrief.pdf

You can see pictures here: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/noti...A_Pictures.pdf

While the Editor's comment in the GA Alert seems to praise the IA who discovered this one, the photos clearly demonstrate a failure to have the cable installed properly in the first place. It is possible there were many repeated inspections on this V35A over a number of years without anyone noticing the slow sawing action through the primary control tube. (Investigation revealed this particular airplane did not fly very often.)

We need to ask ourselves what we are relying on as the basis for the GA Quality Assurance program, as it relates to qualifications, training, recurrency, following directions, and performing proper inspections. This is a systemic challenge for maintenance facilities and individual mechanics alike.
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  #2  
Old 01-04-2012, 08:22 PM
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Flyfalcons Flyfalcons is offline
 
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Default

Holy ****!
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  #3  
Old 01-04-2012, 10:15 PM
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Mike D Mike D is offline
 
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Double holy ****!!!!

The warning is correct. I have as many people look at my plane as I can.

The guy that gave me my first flight in a GA plane had a rudder cable that had 2-3 strands left before it broke. He found this right after the IA inspected it and signed it off. Certified and inspected does not equal safe.
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  #4  
Old 01-04-2012, 10:19 PM
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frankh frankh is offline
 
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Default What???

Was the owner a gorilla or something and couldn't feel the controls interfering with each other?

That almost defies belief!

Frank
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  #5  
Old 01-05-2012, 05:16 AM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
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Default The Waddington effect at work.

Unfortunately, and not pointing fingers, but it was more than likely an A@P that installed said cable.

Remember my last year's pictures of my pressurized fuel line lying against the exhaust?.....installed by my buddy, an A@P and IA !!

Be very careful picking up your airplane after an annual/condition inspection.

The previous year, two spark plug leads were swapped and it back fired and coughed like crazy during the runup/mag check.

Google "Waddington effect"

Best,
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Last edited by pierre smith : 01-05-2012 at 11:57 AM.
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  #6  
Old 01-05-2012, 05:38 AM
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Team RV has an annual inspection policy that is sure to save a few mechanical aborts and maybe more. Each pilot must have two other Team RV members inspect his firewall forward installation and document completion of the inspection prior to the first practice of the air show season. Team pilots are busy doing condition inspections and numerous mods and upgrades during this slack time of year, so firewall forward inspections are now going on. Even the most professional mechanics miss things, so it is not surprising that we do find problems. The Team RV airplanes fly nearly 200 hours yearly with all the shows and practices and they are flown HARD. It is comforting to know that critical aircraft systems have been inspected, not once but three times by independent inspectors.

(BTW, Another safety issue has been addressed: All Team aircraft will now have a smoke pump and fuel pump inertia shutoff switch installed. The switch cuts power to these pumps if it senses 10-12 G's. Sadly, our friend Amanda Franklin may have been saved if such a device was installed on Kyle's airplane.)
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  #7  
Old 01-05-2012, 06:51 AM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
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Default Very good move!

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronschreck View Post
Team RV has an annual inspection policy that is sure to save a few mechanical aborts and maybe more. Each pilot must have two other Team RV members inspect his firewall forward installation and document completion of the inspection prior to the first practice of the air show season. .)
The very best move!

Best,
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RV-10, 510 TT
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Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
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Louisville, Ga

It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132


Dues gladly paid!
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  #8  
Old 01-05-2012, 06:56 AM
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Geico266 Geico266 is offline
 
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When I was flying ultra lights (no annuals required ) we would trade planes for inspections and preflights. It was amazing what we found! Today, I have others look my plane over and I don't use the same A&P for annuals two years in a row on planes I don't have the repair cert for. There have been many little "finds" doing it this way.
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  #9  
Old 01-05-2012, 07:50 AM
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Here's a point to ponder...

...I had a smart commander that used to like to ask "how many mishaps did we prevent today?" We figured that if no one was hurt and no metal was bent, then the answer was "all of 'em." But the fact was we'll never really know because we'll never have insight into all of the individual decisions that were made or the amount of "assist" that corrected potentially hazardous errors.

The picture in this thread is outstanding, and worthy of the holy ****! reactions, but the point to ponder is that decisions that we make as pilots have have the same effect and results, but there's no photographic evidence, no de-brief and maybe not even an "ah ha" moment to go with 'em...

Fly safe,

Vac
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  #10  
Old 01-05-2012, 10:59 AM
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That's not the only problem in that photo. The last time I saw a photo with that quality was a picture of a flying saucer over a Texas farm house.

I would say this was set up. I would like to know what the rod and cable controlled. And did this happen during one flight. How could you NOT notice the conflict between two controls??
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