PIF 07-07

SAFETYGRAM

15 May 07

Takeoffs

Last month we discussed the new FAA Safety Team. One of the ways the team helps reduce the accident rate is to provide emphasis items periodically. One of the current emphasis items is “takeoffs and landings.” According to the 2006 Nall Report, the takeoff/climb and landing phases of flight accounted for nearly 57% of pilot related accidents in 2005 (latest data available). There were a total of 1072 pilot related accidents in 2005 of which 611 occurred during takeoff/climb or landing. On the positive side of this only 41 were fatal accidents (33 takeoff/climb and 8 landing). Since these two phases of flight make up the majority of pilot related accidents, reducing these types of accidents would really improve the overall accident rate. So, this month we will emphasize takeoffs. You know what to expect next month right?

How can a pilot reduce the chance of being involved in a takeoff accident? AOPA provides seven common accident scenarios for takeoffs in an AOPA Pilot magazine article series titled “Ounce of Prevention”. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? Each is an all too common accident cause in NTSB reports.

1. Failed to adequately compensate for wind conditions during takeoff and climbout.

2. Attempted to takeoff in wind conditions beyond the pilot's or airplane's capabilities.

3. Engine failure or loss of power after takeoff.

4. Failed to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff and climbout, resulting in a departure stall.

5. Attempted takeoff with too strong a tailwind component.

6. Failed to compensate for high-density-altitude conditions, or attempting takeoff in density-altitude conditions beyond the airplane's capabilities.

7. Attempted takeoff with improper configuration of the aircraft for weight and flight conditions.

A good article on safety won’t just tell you what happened but how to prevent it in the future. Here are six safety strategies pilots may use to help avoid the above scenarios. They will ensure pilots have a good plan, and are either proficient enough to execute the plan, or wise enough not to attempt the takeoff in the prevailing conditions.

1. Plan every takeoff, taking into consideration aircraft loading, field length, and atmospheric conditions.

2. Pay close attention to airspeed in high-density-altitude situations.

3. Practice takeoffs in gusty and/or crosswind conditions with an instructor if your skills are rusty.

4. Build a safety margin into your rotation speed during gusty conditions.

5. Be cognizant of obstructions in the departure area.

6. Brief a plan of action for coping with a loss of power during the takeoff roll and immediately after liftoff.

Use the general strategies presented as a starting point to develop personal strategies that consider personal capabilities and the actual airplane being flown to have a good plan before the flight even starts. Following the plan will go along way toward avoiding the accident scenarios and help you avoid becoming one of the accident statistics.

Some of us still haven’t dusted off the cobwebs from the long winter. Perhaps now would be a good time to schedule an instructor and hit the pattern for an hour or so – and look for some crosswinds to practice in with an instructor. Know your personal limits and live with them!

FLY SAFE!