AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2022 - 104

FLY WITH AOPA
ASI TIPS /
Mayday, mayday,
mayday
Be a Boy Scout: Be prepared
BY MACHTELD SMITH
NEW FROM ASI /
'There I Was'
No Greater Burden /
Russ Jeter talks about a
personal, devastating tragedy
and the lessons we can take
from it. Warning: listener
discretion advised.
airsafetyinstitute.org/
thereiwas
THINK ABOUT IT. Your airplane's flight manual lists the
" Emergency Procedures " before the " Normal Procedures "
section. Not a surprise, as it's important stuff to read up
on, visualize, and know. But how often do you actually
delve deep into the manual's emergency procedures to
bolster your knowledge? Sure, emergencies may be rare
and onboard checklists can quickly help troubleshoot
an abnormal situation occurring in flight. But consider
this: The airplane manual expands on what to do, well in
advance of any emerging trouble. So, coupled with regular
dual training in in-flight emergencies, it may be wise
to periodically crack open the amplified emergency procedures
pages and read up on the various situations and
how to handle them. That way, this knowledge always
will be top of mind.
So if being prepared is key to successfully managing
an abnormal situation from progressing into a true emergency,
why do pilots sometimes have trouble converting
this preparedness into action-especially in the heat of
the moment? Several factors could influence pilots from
promptly and effectively dealing with an emergency. For
example, they may be reluctant to accept that they're facing
an emergency, they may be fearful and start panicking,
or they may believe that it's important to save the airplane
at any cost.
So, how do you overcome this mindset?
First, tap into your training. Thorough initial and
recurrent training will have provided you the mental and
104
AOPA PILOT / April 2022
Early Analysis: N880Z /
The AOPA Air Safety
Institute makes a preliminary
assessment of a Learjet 35A
accident on December 27,
2021, that killed the pilot,
co-pilot, and two flight
nurses. ASI addresses notable
portions of the tragic flight
and highlights areas the
NTSB will likely investigate to
determine a probable cause.
airsafetyinstitute.org/
EarlyAnalysis/N880Z
physical discipline and capacity
to sort through an unusual
situation or emergency, so you
won't be hesitant to deal with
it. Instead you'll be confident
in your ability to take the right
corrective action.
Second, don't let fear develop into a paralyzing panic. Calming
yourself and realizing that you do know what to do and that you've
trained for this moment will help you apply the necessary procedures
to successfully conquer the emergency.
Third, don't try to save the airplane. It's much more important
that you can walk away from the crash landing even if that means the
airplane may be a total loss. You'll have to make deliberate choices
that may seem drastic but won't jeopardize your health. Flying the
airplane into the crash under control and having the fuselage absorb
the subsequent impact is one such choice.
Just ask Rob Olsen-Drye. He was cruising the blue Alaska summer
sky at 1,300 feet msl when he lost elevator authority. " I heard a pop,
pulled back on the yoke, and noticed the airplane's attitude didn't
change. At that point I knew I was going to be landing somewhere. "
Luckily. among the tall Alaskan forest there was a narrow road within
gliding distance. His skill and proficiency, his airplane's equipment,
and a dose of luck helped him walk away, even though his airplane
was totaled. Watch him describe his emergency in ASI's Real Pilot
Story: Lost Elevator video and take away lessons learned that you can
also apply in your flying adventures.
airsafetyinstitute.org/RPS/lostelevator
machteld.smith@aopa.org
http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/thereiwas http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/thereiwas http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/earlyanalysis/n880z http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/earlyanalysis/n880z http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/RPS/lostelevator
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2022
