AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 22

LICENSE TO LEARN

Nobody moves,
nobody gets hurt

BY ROD MACHADO

Take the time to think about what's happening
HERE'S A GOOD LESSON that every pilot should learn:
When something out of the ordinary happens in an
airplane, think before you act. The stranger the occurrence, the more thinking you should do before you
make your next move or decision.
Years ago, I was standing on the flight line, chatting
with a friend, when we heard a twin rev up its engines:
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Thump!
The airport went silent.
We ran in the direction of the sudden silence, only
to find an Apache with its tail up in the air and its nose
on the ground. It looked like an enormous lawn dart.
The Apache's instructor climbed out of the cockpit, walked to the front of his machine, and removed
the nosewheel chock-the one responsible for collapsing the nose gear assembly.

At that point, I should have realized that I was
much more vulnerable to making a mistake-
any mistake.

ROD MACHADO

will be a featured
speaker at
AOPA Fly-Ins
this summer.

22 | AOPA PILOT May 2015

According to the instructor, he sensed that something wasn't right when he throttled up for taxi.
"I just couldn't put my finger on the problem," he
said. Unfortunately, his throttle fingers were part of
the problem.
The moral of this story is: When something doesn't
feel right in an airplane, think before you continue to
act. If you're not sure what to do, then follow the bank
robber's advice: Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt. Stop
your machine if it's on the ground. If it's in the air,
don't do anything quickly until you've taken the time to
think about what's happening to you. Had the Apache
instructor stopped trying to move forward after experiencing something out of the ordinary, he might have
easily deduced the reason for his stasis.
Several years ago, a commercial student and
I began our takeoff run in a Piper Arrow on a relatively short runway. During the takeoff roll, I sensed
that something wasn't right. The engine sounded fine,
but we weren't accelerating normally. There was no
time to think the problem through, so I applied the
bank robber's advice: Nobody moves, nobody gets
hurt. I powered back, aborted the takeoff, and taxied
to the maintenance hangar for a mechanic's inspection. It turned out that the throttle cable had slipped,

preventing the engine from developing its maximum
takeoff power.
Wouldn't it be nice if everyone who gave advice followed their advice? Unfortunately, everyone can make
a mistake if they fail to think before they act. Me, too.
A few years ago, I was holding short of and perpendicular to the airport's taxiway after obtaining an IFR
clearance. Having just switched to ground control frequency, I spied an absolutely gorgeous green and white
Mooney Ovation taxiing from my left to my right. As it
taxied by, I watched as all three landing gear retracted
into its belly. The airplane plopped onto the ground as
if mortally wounded.
My very first thought was, "Now there's something
you don't see every day." I remember looking at the
two fellows exiting the airplane and feeling very bad
for them. How embarrassing.
Since there was nothing much I could do to help,
I applied power and taxied to the runup area. While
checking my controls, I received a call from ground
control: "Ahh, Two-One-Three-Two Bravo, did you
contact ground control before taxi?"
The humorist in me wanted to respond by asking,
"Why? Is that important?" Of course I didn't do that. It
turned out that I had forgotten to obtain a taxi clearance.
Clearly, the shock of the Mooney's gear collapse had
been something out of the ordinary for me. At that point,
I should have realized that I was much more vulnerable
to making a mistake-any mistake. Staying put and not
moving until I had rerun my taxi checklist would have
been the prudent thing to do. Live and learn.
Needless to say, the folks in the tower weren't too
happy with me, and it took some talking to work things
out. The lesson here is: When something out of the
ordinary happens in an airplane, think before you act.
Apply the "nobody moves, nobody gets hurt" strategy.
The stranger the occurrence, the more you should
think before you act.
One more thing: If you say the phrase, "Nobody
moves, nobody gets hurt," please say it silently and
not out loud-especially if you're on a checkride.
Saying it out loud might scare the examiner, eliminating your chances of obtaining your certificate on that
day. However, it might get you the examiner's wallet or
purse; so that's some compensation, at least.
AOPA
WEB

www.rodmachado.com


http://www.rodmachado.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - R-1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - R-2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - R-3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - R-4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 113
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 114
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 115
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 116
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 117
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 118
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 119
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 120
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 121
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 122
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 123
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 124
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 125
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 126
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 127
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 128
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 129
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 130
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 131
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 132
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 133
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 134
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 135
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - 136
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com