Monday, March 05, 2012

NORAD conducting overnight flights in Washington D.C. area

The North American Aerospace Defense Command is conducting calibration flights over the Washington area early Tuesday morning.  

The flights will take place from about 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. and will involve a Beechcraft King Air aircraft flying patterns at 1,000 to 16,000 feet above ground level.  The flights will test and calibrate systems and equipment. If the exercise is canceled for any reason, it will be rescheduled for early Wednesday or Thursday.

PA46 Meridian Cockpit Flow - Master Instructor Dick Rochfort


Dick Rochfort is a full-time pilot trainer specializing in the PA46 Matrix, Malibu, Mirage and Meridian aircraft. He provides pre-purchase valuation, training, corporate service and expert witness services worldwide.

Up, Up and Back to Anchorage

The best laid plans often come to naught when confronted with Alaskan weather!!

Doug and I (Aliy's dad and mom) met our good friend and experienced Alaskan pilot, Mike Litzen at 0930 today. Mike had flown his 1953 Cessna 150 from his home on the Kenai Peninsula to gather us in Anchorage and make the hour and a half flight to Rainy Pass. We had all been watching Aliy on the Iditarod GPS tracker and planned to catch her shortly after she arrived at that checkpoint. We packed food, drink and extra layers in hopes of staying until 4 this afternoon to see Ryne too.

We were flying over the Cook Inlet at about 1500 feet when Mike got the Rainy Pass/Puntilla Lake weather report. At 1000 the ceiling was 16000 feet, broken with a visibility of 25 miles. Cool! Good flight conditions ahead.

Congressman Mike Turner fights to keep National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - By Tom Crosson

Congressman Mike Turner sent a letter to US Airways Chairman & CEO Doug Parker, expressing his grave disappointment in attempts by the airline to relocate the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) Enshrinement Ceremony from Dayton, Ohio to Charlotte, North Carolina. This year would mark the fiftieth anniversary of the ceremony.

Dayton is also home to the headquarters of PSA Airlines, one of US Airways Express’ operators. With 422 employees, the Dayton region is dedicated to the success of the company, including economic assistance. Recently, the State of Ohio, Montgomery County, and the City of Dayton have approved grant assistance to PSA totaling an additional $1.2 million to assist with the expansion and renovation of their training center.

“Despite this substantial financial investment and support, US Airways is nevertheless taking strides to deprive the Dayton community of the fiftieth NAHF Enshrinement Ceremony with generous contributions to move the ceremony to Charlotte,” wrote Turner.

The NAHF was founded in 1962 as an Ohio non-profit corporation in Dayton; recognized as the “birthplace of aviation.” On July 14, 1964 the NAHF was officially chartered by the 88th U. S. Congress. The organization is a public foundation reporting annually to Congress.

“It is deeply disturbing to me that US Airways would openly defy the commitment of so many dedicated individuals in the Dayton community. As the home of the NAHF, Dayton has provided so much to both the celebration of aviation and US Airways, while the latter is now taking great strides to relocate this hallmark event from the region. I am also troubled by the fact that you fail to grasp the great magnitude of this event and would not speak to me in advance of the NAHF’s decision on the matter,” added Turner.

North Dakota hunters

Two North Dakota hunters from Fargo hired a pilot to fly them to Canada to hunt moose. They bagged four.

As they started loading the plane for the return trip home, the pilot tells them the plane can take only two moose.

The two North Dakotans objected strongly, stating, “Last year we shot four moose, and the pilot let us put them all on board, and he had the same plane as yours.”

Reluctantly, the pilot gave in and all four were loaded.

Unfortunately, even at full power, the little plane couldn’t handle the load and crashed a few minutes after takeoff.

Climbing out of the plane, Sven said to Ole, “Any idea where we are?”

Ole replied, “I think we’re pretty close to where we crashed last year.”

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Warns Of Loud Exercises This Week

The noise level will be cranked up near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro this week because the 4th fighter wing started an operational readiness exercise Monday.

The exercise will run through Thursday. Base officials say residents can expect increased jet noise, low-level flying and loudspeaker announcements throughout the day and possibly until 1:00 a.m.

SkyView speaks about fatal crash: Tracy Municipal Airport (KTCY), California

The chief operations officer for SkyView Aviation is facing vehicular manslaughter charges after a passenger in his car drowned in the Delta-Mendota Canal on Feb. 23.

According to police, Eric Rode-Olsen, 30, of Tracy, was driving an older-model BMW 328i when the car crashed through a chain-link fence, launched off a levy and flipped into the canal at about 11:40 p.m.

Rode-Olsen was reportedly traveling down one of the Tracy Municipal Airport runways before the crash with three Swedish pilots.

Authorities said three of the men escaped the swift waters of the canal, including Rode-Olsen. As of press time Thursday, March 1, the body of the last man, a 23-year-old from Sweden, had yet to be recovered.

The three pilots were part of a group of five Swedish men who came to Tracy a few weeks ago to increase their flight hours by renting aircraft from SkyView, said Craig Vincent, SkyView’s sales manager.

Late Wednesday, Vincent said that during  their time here, the men had grown close to a couple of SkyView employees, particularly Rode-Olsen, with whom they shared a common bond as Swedish countrymen.

Vincent said Rode-Olsen showed the pilots around Tracy during their visit, and they attended a SkyView employee’s birthday party at 6 p.m. the day of the crash. The pilots were all scheduled to fly back to Sweden on Monday, Feb. 27, he said.

“It’s important people understand this was something that had nothing to do with SkyView Aviation,” Vincent said Wednesday, breaking silence after SkyView initially declined several requests for comment. “He happens to be an employee here. They happened to be customers of SkyView. Happened well after hours. Not related to his employment or anything we were doing here at SkyView.”

Without disclosing details of the accident, Vincent said everyone at SkyView was distraught and supportive of Rode-Olsen, an employee at the company for more than four years.

“It’s a tragic accident,” Vincent said. “We feel for the family of those in the vehicle, including Eric and his family. I can’t imagine what the (victim’s) family is going through. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”

Rode-Olsen was booked into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp the day after the accident on charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

The owner of SkyView, Richard Ortenheim, bailed Rode-Olsen out of jail following his arraignment on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Vincent said Ortenheim also hired a private attorney, Albert Ellis, to handle Rode-Olsen’s criminal proceedings.

“We’re all standing by him,” Vincent said. “He likes everybody, and everybody likes him. We’re all a family here. Just how this company is.”

Word spread quickly through the airport community in the days following the accident, according to John Favors, president of Tracy Airport Association.

“Everyone is in denial and shock and, like, wow,” Favors said. “SkyView trains a lot of Swedish pilots. They have these Swedish students come over here all the time.”

“Everyone is somber,” he added. “We’re all looking at it as a real tragedy. Eric’s life may well be destroyed over this, and someone else’s life was destroyed. Everyone is quite sad.”

Favors and other members of the airport community said the charges facing Rode-Olsen were out of character for the 30-year-old.

“The driver of the car is an extremely nice guy,” said one man, who asked that his name not be used. “When I heard about it, I said I can’t see him loaning his car. I can’t believe it. One of normally safe and sane friends. I felt they got it wrong. The whole thing is kind of strange and unbelievable. (You) don’t expect this — to have an auto accident on an airport and death by drowning.”

Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Western-Pacific Region office, said Monday that Tracy airport officials did not report the crash to the FAA. However, he said that would not be necessary, because there were no regulatory violations.

“They didn’t break any federal regulations, so from our perspective, we can only talk to them about safety at the airport, but we can’t enforce anything at this time,” he said.

Rode-Olsen is scheduled to return to Manteca Superior Court on March 21 for further arraignment.

Rode-Olsen’s attorney had asked the judge at his arraignment on Tuesday if he would delay the next court appearance a few weeks to allow him time to gather additional evidence, including the results of Rode-Olsen’s toxicology tests. The results will determine whether there were any drugs or alcohol in Rode-Olsen’s system at the time of the accident.

Rode-Olsen remains free on $100,000 bail, which was lowered by Judge Ron Northup from $150,000. The bail reduction came after the defense attorney promised to keep his client’s Swedish passport locked in his office safe.

Vincent said it was his belief that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the accident, and he didn’t understand the reasoning behind Rode-Olsen’s prosecution.

“In my mind, I don’t understand why they are pursuing this as a crime,” he said. “Someone died in a crash, and that’s a terrible thing. … I don’t understand why it’s not more than a tragic accident.”

Police officials said they planned to release the name of the drowning victim after his body was recovered from the canal.

Detective Tim Bauer said the Tracy Police Department issued a bulletin to other law enforcement agencies along the canal route to keep an eye out for the body.

http://www.tracypress.com

Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer, N6849B: Accidents occurred August 09, 2020 and March 05, 2012



Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

https://registry.faa.gov/N6849B

Location: Burlington, WI
Accident Number: CEN20LA329
Date & Time: 08/09/2020, 1430 CDT
Registration: N6849B
Aircraft: Piper PA22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis

The pilot reported that the engine was not developing the expected rpm during the takeoff and initial climb. He noticed the airplane was not climbing well and could have trouble clearing small trees near the end of the runway. The pilot maneuvered the airplane through a low spot in the trees after he realized he did not have sufficient runway remaining to land. The pilot attempted to gain altitude and airspeed but only gained minimal altitude. The pilot considered applying carburetor heat but realized it would guarantee a loss of engine power with another line of trees ahead of the airplane. The pilot cleared the line of trees, but then impacted the next line of trees. The airplane nosed down, impacted the terrain, and came to rest inverted in a residential yard. The pilot speculated the reduced engine power was due to carburetor ice.

Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. Weather conditions reported at the time of the accident were conducive for carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. The pilot reported that during the takeoff and initial climb, the carburetor heat was off. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during taxi and run-up before the takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and reduced takeoff performance.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice while on the ground, which resulted in reduced climb capability and impact with trees during the initial climb.

Findings

Environmental issues Conducive to carburetor icing - Effect on operation
Environmental issues Tree(s) - Effect on operation

Factual Information

On August 9, 2020, about 1430 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150 airplane, N6849B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Burlington, Wisconsin. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that the engine was not developing the expected engine RPMs during the takeoff and initial climb. He noticed the airplane was not climbing well and may have trouble clearing small trees near the end of the runway. The pilot maneuvered the airplane through a low spot in the trees after he realized he did not have sufficient runway remaining to land. The pilot performed a couple pitch maneuvers in an attempt to gain altitude and airspeed which resulted in a minimal gain in altitude. The pilot considered applying carburetor heat but realized it would guarantee a loss of engine power with another line of trees ahead of the airplane. The pilot cleared the line of trees, but then impacted the next line of trees. The airplane nosed down, impacted the terrain, and came to rest inverted in a residential yard. The pilot speculated the reduced engine power was due to carburetor ice.

According to witnesses and a surveillance video at the Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin, the airplane departed the turf runway 19. The airplane appeared to have a gradual takeoff climb to about 30 to 35 ft above ground level. The airplane continued at that altitude before it disappeared from the witnesses and video view behind some trees south of BUU.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

According to a carburetor ice probability chart, the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to icing at glide and cruise power. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 20-113 explains, "To prevent accidents due to induction system icing, the pilot should regularly use [carburetor] heat under conditions known to be conducive to atmospheric icing and be alert at all times for indications of icing in the fuel system."

History of Flight

Initial climb Fuel related (Defining event)
Initial climb Attempted remediation/recovery
Initial climb Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Post-impact Roll over

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age:68, Male 
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/15/2018
Occupational Pilot:No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  952 hours (Total, all aircraft), 371 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6849B
Model/Series: PA22 150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 22-4148
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/01/2020, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BUU, 780 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1435 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 360°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots / 16 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 190°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 22°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Precipitation
Departure Point: Burlington, WI
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Burlington, WI
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:  CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion:None 
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 42.680278, -88.302222 (est)



Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

Location: East Troy, WI
Accident Number: CEN12LA182
Date & Time: 03/05/2012, 1430 CST
Registration: N6849B
Aircraft: PIPER PA-22-150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot was en route to his destination airport after having made an intermediary stop at another airport when the engine experienced a total loss of engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was no usable fuel present and there were no fuel system leaks.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Findings

Aircraft
Fuel - Fluid management (Cause)
Fuel - Fluid level (Cause)

Personnel issues
Incorrect action performance - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

On March 5, 2012, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6849B, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing to a field near East Troy, Wisconsin. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport (3D2), Ephraim, Wisconsin, destined to Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin.

The pilot stated that the airplane was fueled at BUU and had 44 gallons aboard prior to departure. After about 1:40 hours of flight time, he landed at 3D2. He then departed for BUU and after about 1:15 hours of flight time, the engine quit. He positioned the fuel selector to the left fuel tank and the engine restarted and then ran for about 30 second and quit. During the descent for a forced landing, the engine was able to be restarted using "short bursts" by hand pumping the accelerator pump and the primer pump. The airplane landed short of the field that the pilot planned to land on.

Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that none of the airplane fuel tanks contained usable fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel leak.

The pilot's flight review was expired at the time of the accident.

History of Flight

Enroute
Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)
Loss of engine power (total)

Emergency descent
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 59
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 952 hours (Total, all aircraft), 371 hours (Total, this make and model), 4 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration:N6849B
Model/Series: PA-22-150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built:No
Airworthiness Certificate:Normal
Serial Number: 22-4148
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats:4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320
Registered Owner: Pilot
Rated Power: 150 hp
Operator: Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BUU, 780 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1455 CST
Direction from Accident Site: 360°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 190°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.31 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: -2°C / -7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ephraim, WI (3D2)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Burlington, WI (BUU)
Type of Clearance: VFR Flight Following
Departure Time: 1300 CST
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport:
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation:
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used:
IFR Approach:
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire:None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:


In this photo taken Tuesday, March 6, 2012 workers remove the engine of an aircraft that crash landed in the Mukwonago River on Monday. A 56-year-old man miraculously escaped with a few bumps and bruises after crash landing a plane in the Mukwonago River near where it meets Interstate 43 just before 2:30 p.m. Monday. Vaughan Weeks of Racine is the registered owner of the aircraft.

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Location: East Troy, WI
Accident Number: CEN12LA182
Date & Time: 03/05/2012, 1430 CST
Registration: N6849B
Aircraft: PIPER PA-22-150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot was en route to his destination airport after having made an intermediary stop at another airport when the engine experienced a total loss of engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was no usable fuel present and there were no fuel system leaks.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Findings

Aircraft
Fuel - Fluid management (Cause)
Fuel - Fluid level (Cause)

Personnel issues
Incorrect action performance - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

On March 5, 2012, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6849B, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing to a field near East Troy, Wisconsin. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport (3D2), Ephraim, Wisconsin, destined to Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin.

The pilot stated that the airplane was fueled at BUU and had 44 gallons aboard prior to departure. After about 1:40 hours of flight time, he landed at 3D2. He then departed for BUU and after about 1:15 hours of flight time, the engine quit. He positioned the fuel selector to the left fuel tank and the engine restarted and then ran for about 30 second and quit. During the descent for a forced landing, the engine was able to be restarted using "short bursts" by hand pumping the accelerator pump and the primer pump. The airplane landed short of the field that the pilot planned to land on.

Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that none of the airplane fuel tanks contained usable fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel leak.

The pilot's flight review was expired at the time of the accident.

History of Flight

Enroute
Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)
Loss of engine power (total)

Emergency descent
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 59
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 952 hours (Total, all aircraft), 371 hours (Total, this make and model), 4 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration:N6849B
Model/Series: PA-22-150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built:No
Airworthiness Certificate:Normal
Serial Number: 22-4148
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats:4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320
Registered Owner: Pilot
Rated Power: 150 hp
Operator: Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BUU, 780 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1455 CST
Direction from Accident Site: 360°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 190°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.31 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: -2°C / -7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ephraim, WI (3D2)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Burlington, WI (BUU)
Type of Clearance: VFR Flight Following
Departure Time: 1300 CST
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport:
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation:
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used:
IFR Approach:
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire:None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude:

NTSB Identification: CEN12LA182 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 05, 2012 in East Troy, WI
Aircraft: PIPER PA-22-150, registration: N6849B
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On March 5, 2012, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-140, N6849B, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing to a field near East Troy, Wisconsin. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight destined to Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin.


Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances into front yard of a home.

https://registry.faa.gov/N6849B

Date: 09-AUG-20
Time: 20:10:00Z
Regis#: N6849B
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA22
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: SERIOUS
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 91
City: BURLINGTON
State: WISCONSIN

NTSB Identification: CEN12LA182
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 05, 2012 in East Troy, WI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/13/2013
Aircraft: PIPER PA-22-150, registration: N6849B
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot was en route to his destination airport after having made an intermediary stop at another airport when the engine experienced a total loss of engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was no usable fuel present and there were no fuel system leaks.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

On March 5, 2012, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6849B, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing to a field near East Troy, Wisconsin. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that departed from Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport (3D2), Ephraim, Wisconsin, destined to Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin.

The pilot stated that the airplane was fueled at BUU and had 44 gallons aboard prior to departure. After about 1:40 hours of flight time, he landed at 3D2. He then departed for BUU and after about 1:15 hours of flight time, the engine quit. He positioned the fuel selector to the left fuel tank and the engine restarted and then ran for about 30 second and quit. During the descent for a forced landing, the engine was able to be restarted using "short bursts" by hand pumping the accelerator pump and the primer pump. The airplane landed short of the field that the pilot planned to land on.

Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that none of the airplane fuel tanks contained usable fuel, and there was no evidence of fuel leak.

The pilot's flight review was expired at the time of the accident.

 NTSB Identification: CEN12LA182 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, March 05, 2012 in East Troy, WI
Aircraft: PIPER PA-22-150, registration: N6849B
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On March 5, 2012, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-140, N6849B, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing to a field near East Troy, Wisconsin. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight destined to Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin.





MUKWONAGO — A 55-year-old single-engine plane went down near I-43 into the river near Mukwonago. The pilot is okay. Officials say the plane was flying south along I-43 just before 2:30 Monday afternoon, and a propeller on the plane was not spinning.

Mukwonago Fire Chief Jeffrey Stien tells FOX6 News the pilot, a 59-year-old man from Racine, suffered “just a couple of cuts and bruises.”


The chief says the pilot did a nice job of putting the plane down so it did not flip. “When we got on the scene, police had reported the pilot got himself out, and was standing on the shoreline, and when the plane went down, it didn’t flip or anything. We brought the pilot back here and he’s doing fine,” Stien said. The pilot was treated at the scene for minor injuries. “He’s very lucky because of the water being shallow that he didn’t flip the plane over,” Stien said.


The pilot said he was attempting to reach the East Troy airport, but the plane’s engine shut down. The pilot chose to put the plane in the river, rather than land on I-43, as traffic was heavy. Officials reported receiving a number of 911 calls from drivers on I-43, reporting a low-flying plane near the freeway.


The plane went down approximately 400 feet off of I-43, one mile east of State Highway 83.


FOX6 News spoke with the pilot, who didn’t want to go on camera after his ordeal Monday afternoon.


The Mukwonago Police Department and the FAA are investigating this incident. “What we’re doing is, we are going to put some booms up, just to make sure if there is any leakage. We did use a boat to make sure the fuel was shut off.

American Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Little Rock National Airport/Adams Field


LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — An American Airlines flight that originated at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport made an unexpected landing in Little Rock Monday evening.

Officials at Little Rock National Airport told KARK that Flight 1366 landed around 5:30 after being diverted from its original destination of Memphis, Tennessee and 47 minutes after taking off from D/FW.

Pilots made the decision to change the flight plan after a cockpit instrument indicated a problem with the oil level in one of the aircraft's two engines.

Airport officials said all 130 people on board the MD-80 jet were safe, and that American was dispatching another plane to take the passengers on to Memphis.

Bad planning, hard landing

CHENNAI: The extended secondary runway is proving to be a white elephant for the airport authorities. 

After spending 430 crore to extend the runway from 6,676 feet to 11,269 feet, only 2,000 feet more than the original length can be used.  Sources say the runway has become a casualty of bad planning and that it cannot augment the airport's aircraft handling capacity due to lack of space.

Constraints like a metro rail line and more space for installing instrument landing system and runway lights are the main reasons behind not been able to use the full length of the secondary runway. As air traffic grew, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) wanted to build a runway parallel to the main runway to handle more traffic. But, AAI had to shelve the plan as land acquisition was becoming difficult and decided instead to extend the 6,676-feet secondary runway into a full-fledged one. Officials decided to convert the secondary runway, which was used to handle small 7-seater ATR aircraft, into a taxiway linking the two runways, but did not factor in the need for extra land at the Manapakkam-end of the secondary runway.

"AAI did not factor in the need for additional land when airport expansion work was planned in 2006. The demand for more land, apparently to create a safety buffer zone, was made only after the runway was extended and a new boundary wall was constructed in August 2010. Officials also decided to have a simple lighting system on the extended end of the runway because AAI was not sure whether they will get the 15.5 acres they sought from the state government," said an airport official.

AAI chairman V P Agrawal recently announced that only 8,000 feet of the runway would be opened for service in April. The length of the runway will remain shortened until trees and tall buildings that lie on the flight approach path are reduced and more land is acquired to install landing lights and other landing aids.

Another feature that didn't help the airport authorities was the Chennai metro rail's decision to build an elevated line from the Officer's Training Academy to the airport. The secondary runway already has a displacement of 1,082 feet at the Trident-end. This is expected to go up because of metro rail's alignment even though it is underground.

A senior AAI official said discussions were being held to fix the displacement of the runway from the Manapakkamend. "We are looking at 1,640 feet of displacement. It is yet to be finalized. Discussions are on with different departments and the airlines," he said.

Airlines are pessimistic about the utility of the runway. "Bigger planes will not be able to use the second runway if the whole length is not usable and there are too many restrictions," said an airline official.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

State Police pilot claims his supervisors ordered him to fly a helicopter after it was grounded by the FAA: Louisiana State Police supervisors sued



BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -  A lawsuit filed Monday claims a pattern of retaliation and safety issues within the Louisiana State Police Department. A State Police pilot claims his supervisors ordered him to fly a helicopter after it was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration, and that the Commander of all State Police took no disciplinary action.

The lawsuit claims two Louisiana State Police Pilot Supervisors committed malfeasance in office, wasted tax payer's money, and abused their power to get back at two pilots: Ryan Roberts and Lynn Calamia.

The pilots' attorney, Walter Smith III, has listed more than 25 examples of what he claims are clear cut cases of illegal actions by supervisors Brett McCloud and Eric Frazier.

One being an allegation that Frazier ordered Lynn Calamia to fly the State Police Helicopter after the FAA grounded the chopper for having cracked rotor blades. According to the suit, the supervisors knew it and let Calamia fly the aircraft, which put his life in danger, and on later flights with Governor Jindal, put the Governor and his wife in danger.

The lawsuit also states McCloud used the state helicopter to fly to Abbeville, LA to do what his attorney refers to as a "racially motivated" shakedown.

"McCloud was on duty and in uniform when he took a State Police helicopter without authorization, flew to Abbeville, La., misled Abbeville Police and lied to them to confront a young black man who was dating his daughter," said Smith.

"My client wasn't even at work," said McCloud's attorney, Jill Craft. "He was on administrative leave until the 7th or 8th. He was not there."

State Police Commander Colonel Mike Edmunson says records show a flight was scheduled on the date of the alleged shakedown. Edmunson says former Colonel Henry Whitehorn did take disciplinary action.

He tells 9 News an internal investigation is, and has been, underway. He says it involves reviewing all flight logs going back to 2005. He says so far he sees no evidence that the pilots flew an unsafe aircraft.

"At no time was anyone flown in an unsafe manner and at no time was any aircraft flown that we knew about had anything wrong with them that would've caused any harm or any unsafe flying conditions," Col. Edmunson said.

The Colonel says he has already made some changes, including removing McCloud and Frazier from their role of supervisor over the pilots.

http://www.wafb.com

Ornge: Helicopters’ tail rotors could fall off, says Frank Klees

TORONTO — Pilots, paramedics and patients should be worried about the safety of helicopters used by Ornge, Ontario's air ambulance system, Progressive Conservative transport critic Frank Klees said Monday.

The 12 AugustaWestland 139 helicopters Ontario purchased for $144 million -- only 10 were ever put into service -- have problems with tail rotors falling off, Klees told the legislature.

The former transport minister pointed to an air-worthiness directive he said was issued "just days ago" by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Klees said it warns the owners of the AW139 that they are required to conduct "repetitive inspections" and maintenance of the tail rotors every 25 flight hours, and orders to replace them every 600 hours.

"The reason? They fall off," he said.

Ornge issued a statement Monday saying the Feb. 17 air worthiness directive from the EASA did not apply to the Ornge fleet of helicopters, but an earlier one last August from the agency did place a limit of 600 hours on the tail rotors of the Ornge air ambulances.

"(New) procedures include daily inspections of the tail rotor blades areas if the aircraft had flown," said Ornge spokesman James MacDonald in an email. "These procedures were carried out from August 2011 to February 2012, and no defects were found during this time."

However, Klees said he wouldn't take a ride in an Ornge air ambulance chopper, even in an emergency.

"I would not want to be a pilot, I would not want to be a paramedic and I would not want to be a patient," Klees told reporters.

"Knowing the track record of these helicopters, I would take my chances getting from point A to point B with some other means."

Health Minister Deb Matthews was unaware of the air worthiness directive concerning the Ornge air ambulance helicopters, but said patient safety was a top priority for the new board of directors.

"Patient safety is their No. 1 consideration and they are taking appropriate steps," Matthews told the legislature.

"There is an OPP investigation underway right now, as it relates to irregular financial arrangements at Ornge. It's vitally important that those of us in this house, if we have information, share that information with the OPP."

The government called in police to investigate various for-profit companies set up by Ornge and fired the previous board of directors and founder Dr. Chris Mazza, who was making $1.4 million a year.

The New Democrats said the Liberal government apparently did little to provide proper oversight of Ornge, despite repeated warnings from the opposition parties.

"Whether it's the detail of the helicopters and their safety, or whether it's the fact that all of this information was available to the premier and he did nothing about it, it's all very disturbing," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

"Ontarians should not accept the government's excuses."

The Tories and NDP, both of which have been calling for Matthews' resignation, also want a special committee of the legislature with powers to subpoena witnesses to investigate Ornge, which gets about $150 million a year in provincial funding.

They say an all-party committee would have a broader mandate than the police and could probe lingering issues around quality of care and crew safety and also protect whistleblowers who are afraid to talk about ongoing problems at Ornge.

http://m.cp24.com

Jet engine icing research at Cleveland's NASA Glenn will tackle dangerous flight problem

On a stormy July evening in 2004, more than five miles above the South China Sea, the engines powering a large passenger jet en route to Taiwan suddenly failed.

A simultaneous engine shutdown on a large, modern aircraft is almost unheard of. After a harrowing 75 seconds, the pilots managed to restart them, and the jet landed at the Taipei airport without further problems. But the incident set off alarms in the aviation community.

Minutes before its engines quit, the jet had been skirting thunderstorms spawned by a distant typhoon. Investigators first thought the storms' powerful updrafts had pulled rain high into the atmosphere, temporarily smothering the engines when they sucked in gouts of water instead of air. The jet's pilots had seen and heard droplets hitting the windshield, bolstering the rain theory.

But the jet's radar sweeps were clear, with no echoes from rain. And the temperature at the altitude where the trouble began was a frigid minus-44 degrees, far too cold for liquid water. Researchers eventually concluded the engines must have been choked by tiny ice crystals as small as flour grains – a dangerous, unexpected phenomenon that aviation officials urgently want to learn more about so they can lessen its risk.

Much of that work will take place at Cleveland's NASA Glenn Research Center, where engineers are readying a unique test chamber capable of mimicking the odd weather conditions that threatened the Taipei-bound jet, and have caused more than 150 other in-flight incidents. 

"These things are happening pretty frequently, like one incident every month or so," said Glenn project manager Ron Colantonio. "NASA is working with the aviation community to understand what's causing the problem and how to mitigate it." 

Glenn officials recently unveiled the silvery, boxcar-sized engine icing tunnel during a visit by NASA administrator Charles Bolden. Glenn engineers previously had used the tunnel for other types of jet engine tests. With $15 million in Recovery Act and NASA money, they've retrofitted it with water sprayers that will produce the minute ice crystals believed to be causing the engine problems. Sensors will track the performance of jet engines mounted on a frame in the icy air stream. 

Aviation safety experts have long recognized the danger from ice buildup on wings and other external aircraft surfaces. The hazard is caused by super-cooled liquid water freezing on contact, disrupting smooth airflow and hampering lift. For decades engineers in Glenn's Icing Branch have led international efforts to develop better ice forecasting methods, icing sensors, anti-icing aircraft designs, and improved pilot training. 


But the idea that ice could cause a problem deep inside a jet engine, and at altitudes much higher than where liquid water can exist, didn't seem to make sense. Above 22,000 feet, ice crystals in the atmosphere bounce harmlessly off cold aircraft surfaces and exterior icing ceases to be a problem.

Aviation officials struggled to understand why, beginning in the 1990s, commuter and large transport jet pilots were reporting engine flameouts or partial loss of power. There have been no crashes to date attributed to engine icing. Pilots usually are able to restart or regain full engine power after dropping to lower, warmer altitudes, although the pilot of a small business jet had to make an emergency "dead-stick" landing at the Jacksonville, Fla., airport in November 2005 when neither stalled engine would re-light.

The clues from these incidents were sparse:

The engine failures occurred at high altitudes and cold temperatures, averaging 26,800 feet and minus-17 degrees. They mostly happened as jets were descending, although the problems also cropped up during ascent and level cruising. The most common site was the Asian Pacific region, though incidents were reported throughout the world. Flight paths were near or above convective clouds, with lots of rain down below but nothing on weather radar at flight level.

Researchers know that storm updrafts can shoot lots of moisture to high altitudes, where the drops fast-freeze into ice crystals. The Asian Pacific is a cauldron for such fierce convective storms because of its warm ocean surface temperatures.

Large ice particles show up on aircraft radar and remain in the core of the storm cloud, which pilots already know to avoid. But tiny ice crystals – invisible except on sophisticated satellite scans – accumulate at the cloud's periphery. They're only evident when they strike and melt on a jet's heated windshield, masquerading as raindrops.

How those near-microscopic ice crystals manage to foul a jet engine is mostly speculative, at least until engine testing in Glenn's ice crystal tunnel begins early next year. Here's what scientists think happens:

A jet's forward motion and its engines' mighty air intake draw ice crystals deep inside. At some point, probably in the compressor section, the temperature is above freezing and some of the crystals melt. A thin film of water forms on engine surfaces, trapping more incoming ice crystals and melting them, too. 

As some of the water vaporizes, the engine metal loses heat in a process called evaporative cooling, like sweat cooling the skin. Eventually the metal's temperature drops to the freezing point and ice accumulates. When ice shards slough off, they can choke airflow into the compressor, causing the engine to surge or stall. They also may quench the engine's combustor, causing a flameout, or complete failure. Vibration and mechanical damage may occur if breakaway ice fragments slam into the engine's rapidly spinning blades. 

"Test facilities capable of simulating this [ice crystal] weather condition for turbine engines are not readily available to the industry," a trio of propulsion experts wrote in a 2006 study that outlined the ice particle threat. Previous test rig attempts have had trouble getting the right air temperature and the range of ice crystal sizes and shapes that duplicate what happens in flight. The Glenn chamber should fill that void. 

"This is a one-of-a-kind facility," Colantonio said. "There's no other facility in the world that can generate ice crystals at altitude. We can take [a test engine] from sea level to 40,000 feet. Engine icing can come about in minutes." 

To make certain its icing tunnel is accurately simulating the weather conditions jets experience at high altitude, the Glenn center has outfitted a Gulfstream jet with more than 20 meteorological sensors. Next January, the jet will begin data-gathering flights from Darwin, Australia, where seasonal monsoons should provide plenty of ice crystal-generating storms. 

Glenn engineers will use the results to fine-tune their simulations in the icing tunnel. The tests should help jet engine manufacturers find ways of preventing ice buildup, and help the Federal Aviation Administration develop safety certification standards for future engines. 

For now, aviation officials advise pilots to reduce the risk of engine icing by steering a path at least 20 nautical miles around a storm cell, and avoiding flying over them, where the icy updrafts occur.

http://www.cleveland.com