howardwhite 5 #1 November 25, 2008 The FAA today published an airworthiness directive affecting most Twin Otters. It requires a modification intended to prevent takeoff with the elevator control locks in place. A Twin Otter -- not a jump plane -- crashed in Massachusetts in June, killing the pilot. The investigation found the control locks were in place. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hackish 8 #2 November 25, 2008 I know nothing of flying aircraft but read it out of curiosity. Something I wonder is for those who have tried to take off with their gust locks engaged - isn't that some major skipping of pre-flight control checks? -Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #3 November 25, 2008 QuoteI know nothing of flying aircraft but read it out of curiosity. Something I wonder is for those who have tried to take off with their gust locks engaged - isn't that some major skipping of pre-flight control checks? -Michael Yup, it sure is, but it does happen. Even really good pilots make mistakes. I remember loading a Twin Otter several years ago with the tail gust lock in place. The pilot was terrific, but he was rushed and made a simple and easily preventable mistake that could have cost 23 lives. Pulling the gust lock was easy, and was followed by a quick walk-around and a full run up. I doubt the pilot ever made that mistake again. The cost of this AD is estimated by the FAA to be $1,605 per aircraft, based on a part cost of $1,125, and six hours of total labor...the labor component seems high to me, and I'm guessing operators with their own in-house maintenance programs will not spend as much time on the change. I don't like the idea of the FAA telling me what I can and must do with my own aircraft, but this is a case where members of the public are being flown in a turbine powered aircraft. AOPA made a good point that an informational bulletin might have been a better option than an AD, but the FAA declined to rule that way. The cost of this AD seems reasonable, and I hope all operators comply quickly.Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 5 #4 November 25, 2008 An Otter owner/pilot/mechanic told me (after the June crash in Massachusetts) that pilots sometimes leave the lock in place while taxiing in gusty winds so they don't have to keep fighting the wind blowing the controls around. That wasn't the case in the June crash, where the wind was essentially calm, and probably would not be the case for a jump plane. But I once saw a retired airline captain with some 39,000 hours abort a DC3 jump plane takeoff after he had lifted the tail and found he had no rudder control because the rudder lock was in place. In that case, it was an external lock on the tail of the aircraft, where of course the Otter locks are inside, in front of the pilot. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,683 #5 November 25, 2008 QuoteThe FAA today published an airworthiness directive affecting most Twin Otters. It requires a modification intended to prevent takeoff with the elevator control locks in place. A Twin Otter -- not a jump plane -- crashed in Massachusetts in June, killing the pilot. The investigation found the control locks were in place. HW If we had to install a device to prevent every conceivable source of pilot error, our planes would be so heavy they'd never be able to leave the ground, and only Bill Gates could afford one.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwrl 56 #6 November 25, 2008 And pilots would come up with new errors.Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gearless_chris 1 #7 November 25, 2008 QuoteAnd pilots would come up with new errors. Just like we do. According to Mr. Booth anyway, and I believe him."If it wasn't easy stupid people couldn't do it", Duane. My momma said I could be anything I wanted when I grew up, so I became an a$$hole. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwrl 56 #8 November 26, 2008 Yep. Not saying it's a "pilot" thing. I think it's just one of the consequences of being, you know, human.Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 8 #9 November 26, 2008 The MCAI, to prevent an attempted take-off with the gust locks installed, requires the incorporation of de Havilland Modification 6/1676 (ensures downward deflection of the elevators when the control locks are engaged) and incorporation of de Havilland Modification 6/1726 (adds to the control lock a warning flag which masks essential flight instruments on the pilot’s instrument panel). Hopefully there's enough of these kits available out there between now and 30 Dec. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #10 December 2, 2008 This, actually, is a good directive imho.http://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
