Meyers LITTLE TOOT, N848Z: Accident occurred October 11, 2012 in Roanoke, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN13LA011 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, October 11, 2012 in Roanoke, TX
Aircraft: MEYERS LITTLE TOOT, registration: N848Z
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 October 11, 2012, about 1800 central daylight time, a Meyers Little Toot, N848Z, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing to a field at Northwest Regional Airport (52F), Roanoke, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to, and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, the aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff. During the forced landing the airplane departed the remaining runway, traveled through a frangible fence, struck a barbed-wire fence, and nosed over. The substantial damage consisted of damage to the upper wing forward spar and I Struts, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 848Z        Make/Model: EXP       Description: EXP- LITTLE TOOT
  Date: 10/12/2012     Time: 2315

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: ROANOKE   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT LOST CONTROL ON TAKEOFF, RAN INTO A FENCE AND FLIPPED OVER. 

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Take-off      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: FORT WORTH, TX  (SW19)                Entry date: 10/12/2012 

http://registry.faa.gov/N848Z

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo

 

Credit: WFAA viewer

 

Credit: WFAA 

A plane went down near Northwest Regional Airport in Denton County Thursday at approximately 6:10 pm

 

Credit: WFAA

ROANOKE -- A plane went down near Northwest Regional Airport in Denton County Thursday at approximately 6:10 p.m. A DPS spokesman said a Meyers Special bi-plane was taking off when it lost power. The pilot, Philip Witt, tried to land but crashed through a fence at the end of the runway and flipped the plane. The pilot was strapped in and suffered only minor cuts and bruises. He was treated at the scene.

 http://www.wfaa.com

A single-engine biplane crashed into a cattle field after losing power on takeoff Thursday night at Northwest Regional Airport.

The Meyer Special lost power shortly after 7 p.m. The pilot attempted to put the plane back on the runway but the plane was moving too fast to stop.

It skidded through two fences before hitting a gully and flipping in an open pasture, said Trooper Lonnie Haschel, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The pilot, Phillip Witt of Roanoke, walked away from the crash with minor cuts and bruises.

The plane crash wasn’t far from a fatal crash at the airport on September. 22, said Roanoke Fire Chief Mike Duncan.

There is a thick line of trains about 150 feet from the south end of the runway, he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com

http://registry.faa.gov/N848Z

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo

ROANOKE — Authorities have reported that a small plane crashed sometime after 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke. The extent of the pilot’s injuries was not immediately available.

The Roanoke Fire Department responded to the crash. Several emergency vehicles responded to the scene and authorities found the small blue and white single-passenger plane at the end of a runway. A Roanoke fire fighter said the plane sustained minimal damage.

Officials directed further media inquires to the Federal Aviation Administration but FAA Spokesman Lynn Lunsford could not be reached. The Roanoke Fire Department spokesman also could not be reached for comment.

This is the third plane crash in three weeks involving planes from that airport.

Four people died when their small plane crashed Saturday morning after leaving the Denton County airport. The victims were identified as Leonard Ledet, 60, of Southlake; his two sons, Paul Ledet, 16, and Mason Ledet, 13; and his brother, Gregory Ledet, 62, of Keller.

Officials found the plane's wreckage in a pasture about a mile from FM90 on Van Zandt County Road 2702.

Pilot Christopher Pratt, 41, of Argyle was killed Sept. 22 when the plane he was in crashed in a wooded area near the airport shortly after takeoff. Passenger Charles Yates, 63, of Grapevine was airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where he died.

http://www.dentonrc.com

Bell 206B, N333DR: Accident occurred October 10, 2012 in Crowley, Louisiana

NTSB Identification: CEN13FA009 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, October 10, 2012 in Crowley, LA
Aircraft: BELL 206B, registration: N333DR
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

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 either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On October 10, 2012, approximately 1155 central daylight time, a Bell 206B, N333DR, was substantially damaged when it impacted a guy-wire on a broadcast tower and then terrain, near Crowley, Louisiana. The private pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to Pintail Lodge and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Broussard, Louisiana, approximately 1135 and was en route to Beaumont, Texas.

According to a witness performing maintenance on the broadcast tower, he initially observed the helicopter ½ mile to the east of the broadcast tower, flying towards the broadcast tower. When the helicopter was approximately 60 feet from the broadcast tower, the helicopter banked to the left, as if to avoid hitting the broadcast tower and subsequently struck the No. 4 guy-wire on the south side of the broadcast tower. When the helicopter struck the wire the helicopter veered back to the right and started to descend towards terrain. The witness did not observe or hear anything abnormal with the helicopter prior to the impact with the wire.

Debris from the helicopter extended several hundred yards to the west of the broadcast tower. The main rotor assembly and the aft portion of the tail boom, to include the tail rotor and vertical fin, were located in a crawfish pond between the broadcast tower and a service road between two ponds. The main wreckage, to include the cabin, fuselage, engine and transmission assembly, the forward portion of the tail boom and both horizontal fins, came to rest on the service road between the two crawfish ponds on an approximate heading of west.

KiiiTV3.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

UPDATE:   Funeral arrangements have been made for a Beaumont helicopter pilot who died in an accident earlier this week.

Hugh Clifton Kelley, 66, of Beaumont, died in a helicopter crash Wednesday.

A gathering of Mr. Kelley's family and friends will be from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday, October 14, 2012, at Broussard's located at 2000 McFaddin Avenue in Beaumont.  His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 15, 2012 at Wesley United Methodist Church located at 3810 North Major Drive in Beaumont

Internment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

According to our affiliate at KATC, officials say Kelley's helicopter crashed into guy wires near a radio tower.  He was the only person on board the helicopter during the accident.

Officials also say the helicopter was registered to Pintail Lodge of Beaumont. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. 

LYONS POINT - A helicopter apparently flying too low crashed in a field near Lyons Point Thursday morning killing the Texas pilot and cutting a guidewire that was attached to an antennae belonging to KSIG radio.

“We received a phone call of at helicopter down at 10:44 a.m. this morning,” said Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Director Maxine Trahan. “Witnesses said the helicopter was flying too low and hit a guidewire which was one of several helping to hold up the antennae.”

Several people along Benton Rd. were worried that the antennae may fall due to the wire being cut. However, Trahan said that nobody in the area was in any danger.

“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) are currently on the way,” said Trahan. “Until then we are securing the area simply for safety purposes.”

“I heard the copter fly over and it did sound like it was right over my house,” said an area resident. “Then I heard a thud and a sound that may have been the chopper blades hitting the ground. I thought that don’t sound right”

http://www.zacharytoday.com

http://registry.faa.gov/N333DR

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 333DR        Make/Model: B206      Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER
  Date: 10/10/2012     Time: 1710

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: CROWLEY   State: LA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N333DR BELL 206B ROTORCRAFT STRUCK A RADIO TOWER AND CRASHED, THE 1 PERSON 
  ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, 7 MILES FROM CROWLEY, LA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: BATON ROUGE, LA  (SW03)               Entry date: 10/11/2012 

Arion Lightning, N290AL: Accident occurred October 11, 2012 in Chuckey, Tennessee

NTSB Identification: ERA13FA017 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, October 11, 2012 in Chuckey, TN
Aircraft: Arion Lightning, registration: N290AL
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.

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 either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

 
On October 11, 2012, about 1350 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Arion Lightning, N290AL, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground during takeoff from Hensley Airpark (04TN), Chuckey, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and a pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The airplane was based in a residential aviation community at 04TN.

The owner\builder of the airplane reported that it was purchased as a kit 3 or 4 years ago and he took it to the Arion Lightning factory, Shelbyville, Tennessee, to participate in a builder assist program over the summer. The airplane was issued a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) special airworthiness certificate on September 14, 2012, and was flown for about 20 hours in Shelbyville, before returning to 04TN, about 1 week prior to the accident.

The airplane’s operations limitations called for the airplane to be flown for 40 hours for Phase 1 flight testing. On the day of the accident, the pilot, who was a friend of the owner/builder, was planning to conduct a local flight to practice maneuvers such as slow flight and stalls, while the passenger recorded information during the flight. A preflight check of the airplane’s fuel level revealed about 15.5 gallons.

Witnesses observed the airplane taking off from runway 1, a 2,900-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway. Several witnesses reported that the airplane’s engine sounded as if it was developing full power, and the nose gear lifted off the runway, then settle back onto the runway, before the airplane "pitch-up sharply." The airplane began to slowly climb, with its wings "wobbling" back and forth, and it drifted to the left of the runway. One witness stated that the airplane looked "slow" and was in nose high attitude when its right wing dipped, struck the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled.

The passenger reported that the airplane lifted off the runway, slowly climbed to an altitude of about 50 to 60 feet and was "wallowing." The airplane had drifted off the left side of the runway and was near trees and a residence when he elected to assume control of the airplane, which the pilot relinquished. The passenger started a right bank toward an opening in the tree line; however, shortly thereafter, the airplane’s nose abruptly dropped to 45 to 60 degrees, and the airplane struck the ground.

The airplane came to rest on a heading of about 250-degrees, on the grass, about 150-feet left of and just prior to the northern end of the runway. A ground scar was observed about 100-feet south of the main wreckage. All major portions of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The canopy and the portion of the fuselage forward of the cockpit seats were separated and the left and right wing assembly was canted downward about 45-degrees. The nose gear and engine were located about 25 feet south of the main wreckage.

Initial examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane’s flaps were observed at or near the fully-extended position of 40-degrees, which was consistent with the position of the flap actuator. The passenger reported that the flaps were in the retracted position during taxi and he did not recall the pilot adding flaps prior to the flight.

The airplane was equipped with a Grand Rapids Technologies, electronic primary flight instrument, which was forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Division, Washington, DC for data download.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 290AL        Make/Model: EXP       Description: EXP- LIGHTNING
  Date: 10/11/2012     Time: 1840

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: GREENEVILLE   State: TN   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. GREENEVILLE, TN

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   1
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: NASHVILLE, TN  (CE19)                 Entry date: 10/12/2012 

http://registry.faa.gov/N90AL

http://www.airnav.com/airport/04TN

Photo Credit: WCYB

 

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. -  Two people were sent to the hospital after the plane they were flying crashed in Greene County, Tennessee.

An airplane that's made for the sky ends in complete destruction on the ground in Greene County, Tennessee.

"When I arrived on scene, I had a small, single-engine, two-passenger aircraft that had taken off," said Robert Sayne, the Greene County EMS director.

We learned the crash happened around 2:00 Thursday afternoon inside the the fly-in community of Hensley Airpark off Chuckey Pike.

Sayne told us it appears there was a mechanical problem shortly after take-off.

"There was some type of problem with the aircraft, and it immediately started coming back down, and they were able to crash it into an open field next to the runway," Sayne added.

Sayne confirms the passengers of the experimental plane are 66-year-old Jack Cooper and 50-year-old Marcel Bravo. He said it's unclear who was flying.

Sayne told us crews had to contain a small fuel leak, and both men were taken to the hospital one of them with a serious back injury.

Nearby resident Trish Carter told me she heard some of the chaos and knew one of the passengers.

"There was all kinds of sirens and everything," said Carter. "I was scared, because I don't want anybody to be hurt. My understanding is they had worked on the plane and were just test driving it."

The plane crashed just about 50 yards away from a residential home, leaving emergency workers thankful it wasn't worse.

"I think they took a lot of care in making sure that they put the aircraft where they put it at," said Sayne.

"I'm just thankful it didn't hit any of those [homes], because there could've been some fatalities, because it would've been awful," said Carter.

We checked with Johnson City Medical Center officials and learned both men were in stable condition.

We also found out members of the NTSB and the FAA are likely to be on site Friday to investigate.


http://www.airnav.com/airport/04TN

http://www.wcyb.com  
Update at 10:23 p.m.: We just found out that Jack Cooper, the pilot of the plane, is listed in critical condition at Johnson City Medical Center. A hospital spokesman said passenger Mark Bravo is not a patient at the facility. 

http://www2.wjhl.com

 CHUCKEY –– A plane carrying two passengers crashed near the runway at Hensley Airpark Thursday, according to a crash report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Department. One man was reportedly critically injured.

According to the report, the pilot, Jack Cooper, 50, 101 Kitty Hawk, and his passenger Marc Bravo, 50, 275 Mitchell Road, were in the plane, which did a run on the south end of the runway around 2 p.m. It then turned around and started to take off on the north end.

Gene Cutman told the sheriff’s department that he saw the plane go to the left of the runway and take off, but said it looked as if the pilot did not have control of the aircraft. The plane crashed in a field left of the runway, the report said.

Cooper was listed in critical condition Thursday night at Johnson City Medical Center.

Information on Bravo’s condition was unavailable.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/04TN

GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. - 

UPDATE 6:11 p.m.: The men involved in the crash have been identified as 66-year old Jack Cooper and 50- year old Marcelino Bravo.

UPDATE 3:56 p.m.: A spokesperson for Johnson City Medical Center said both patients are listed in stable condition.

The Greene County Sheriff's Department said an experimental plane crashed on Chuckey Pike around 2 p.m. Thursday.

Robert Sayne, the Director of the Greene County Emergency Management, said the plane had taken off and was coming back around to land in the fly-in community when something went wrong with the controls.

The plane crashed in a grassy area near the runway.

Sayne said two people were taken to Johnson City Medical Center. One person with serious back injuries and the other person had scrapes and bruises.

The crash is under investigation.

 http://www.wcyb.com

CHUCKEY — An experimental plane crashed on takeoff at about 2 p.m. this afternoon at Hensley Airpark.

According to airstrip owner Ted Hensley, two persons were injured in the crash.

Transported to Johnson City Medical Center were pilot Jack Cooper and passenger Marc Bravo, both residents of the airport community.

The two men were listed in stable condition late Thursday afternoon.

According to a witness, Donnie Shipley, the pilot was heading south on the runway, turned around to head north to take off and then veered off the runway while taking off.

The aircraft crashed on the left of the runway in a field, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Stewart said he was told.

“We’ve never had anything serious before,” said resident Virginia Merrill.

Hensley Airpark is on Skyway Drive off Chuckey Pike.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/04TN

http://www.greenevillesun.com
 
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com

Johnsons file lawsuit calling for appeal of helistop denial in Tewksbury, New Jersey

TEWKSBURY TWP. - James Johnson has filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in Flemington calling for the appeal of the Land Use Board's decision to deny a helistop for his family's 2,000-acre farm, located on Homestead Road in Oldwick.

The lawsuit argues that the board's findings used in reaching its decision were "unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious" and that the denial is "tainted" due to the board's "lack of quasi-judicial demeanor in this matter."

Following 19 months of hearings, in May the board denied the application filed by the Johnson family, of Johnson and Johnson health products fame, for a helistop in a 4-3 decision. The case stirred significant controversy in the community; more than 40 area residents took to the podium during the public portion of the hearings, with a slight majority speaking out against the proposal.

Last month, the Johnsons filed an application for a helistop license with the state Department of Transportation. In a 2-1 decision, the Tewksbury Township Committee agreed to submit comments in opposition to the application, with committee members Shaun Van Doren and William Voyce voting "yes" and Committeeman Peter Melick voting "no." Mayor Dana Desiderio was asked to recuse herself from the vote and Committeeman Louis Di Mare was absent.

In the lawsuit, filed by the Johnsons' attorney, Miles Winder, on Oct. 5, the plaintiff argues that several board members' recusal from the case was unnecessary, and their absence from hearing the case unfavorably impacted the Johnsons' application.

The complaint also argues that the helistop would be located far from neighboring homes and that trials proved that noise from a landing or departing aircraft would have little to no affect on area residents. The board made an "erroneous determination" by including excessive noise generated by the helicopter as a factor in its decision, Winder argues, especially because board members were preempted from basing their decision on noise by a federal limitation.

Also erroneous was the board's reliance on "materially flawed" testimony from non-expert witnesses opposed to the stop, the complaint maintains.

The lawsuit is particularly critical of board Attorney Dan Bernstein and board Chairman Blake Johnstone. Winder maintains the two prevented him from asking hypothetical questions about the impact of the helicopter's flight path, which the Johnsons promised would always come from the south over their own land so as not to disturb neighbors, "because they knew that the answer would be that there would be no impact on the surrounding neighborhood."

In addition, the board attorney and chairman demonstrated an "adversarial demeanor" to the plaintiff throughout the course of hearings, the lawsuit maintains.

Even then, the township does not technically have authority to regulate aircraft and landing sites, according to the complaint. Rather, that authority lies at the state and federal levels, Winder writes.

Finally, Winder argues that the board's determination that, because the farm has few foreign buyers, the helistop would not significantly benefit the farm's cow and cattle embryo business is flawed -- the farm would have more buyers if it had a helistop, he says.

"To not permit a farmer to attempt to earn a living by selling cattle embryos to foreign (and domestic) buyers for income that could be in the millions is to deny the farmer the right to make the farm profitable and earn a living," the attorney writes.

He adds, "A profitable farm is a self-sustaining farm and inures to the protection and preservation of farmland. Clearly, the best program for farmland preservation is to have profitable farms."

The deadline for submitting comments on the Johnsons’ DOT helistop application to the state agency is tomorrow, Oct. 12. Should the DOT receive enough comments and deem the application a “contested case,” it may schedule a public hearing on the issue in the future.

http://newjerseyhills.com

Petitioning Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters, dba Leland Fly Fishing Ranch

This petition will be delivered to:
Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters, dba Leland FLy Fishing Ranch        
Leland Fly Fishing Ranch: IMMEDIATELY Remove the Solid Log Fence & Trees Across SVAs Runway Overrun

"Josh Frazier, Leland Fly Fishing Ranch, with reckless disregard for public safety egregiously erected a solid log fence/obstacle across 65 year old Sonoma Valley Airport's Runway 17/ 35 safety overrun. The California Department of Transportation, DIv. of Aeronautics, wrote a letter in July 2012 pointing out the dangers, but Leland would rather argue, through lawyers, if in-fact, the fence poses a danger. They want the public to be put at risk while they challenge DOT if a solid log fence will maim or kill a person should an aircraft roll out just a little too far. Please tell these Aggressors - PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST. TAKE DOWN the fence-to-nowhere now!"

Read more:   https://www.change.org/petitions/leland-fly-fishing-ranch-immediately-remove-the-solid-log-fence-trees-across-svas-runway-overrun

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport windows being replaced (PHOTOS)

Construction crews at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are working to replace large windows in the Airport’s air traffic control tower—replacing the existing windows that are almost 30 years old. Each of the new windows weighs approximately 850 pounds. The windows are about 106 inches wide at the top, 98 inches wide at the bottom, and 99 inches high.

See photos:  http://www.wjla.com

Canadian heritage plane on the auction block

Surviving war and time, a Canadian flyer that's roamed the skies for 70 years -- losing some heritage along the way -- is about to find a new home.

But it would take top dollar to get the veteran back to the place it first protected.

A rare Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft that flew along Canada's East Coast during the Second World War -- possibly helping to protect convoys from German U-boats -- is going up for auction and bids could reach a lofty $2.6 million.

Sholto Gilbertson, with the London, England-based Bonhams auctioneers, which is selling off the Hurricane Mk XIIa 5711 -- fully equipped with 12 Browning .303 machine guns -- said little is known of how the now fully restored fighter spent the war.

Built in 1942, it could have been used as a trainer for Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots in Nova Scotia, or may have seen action during patrols over the Atlantic coast.

But what is known is the iconic monoplane Hurricanes, which protected London during the Battle of Britain, are disappearing.

"They are very rare with only a handful flying worldwide," Gilbertson said.

Back in 1947, after its service with the RCAF, a Canadian syndicate out of Saskatchewan bought it. Then in 1989, it was restored for flight, before being bought by a British vintage aircraft agency in 2002.

In 2005, it became the first Hurricane to return to the Mediterranean island of Malta since the Second World War and flew in Russia this year for President Vladimir Putin.

But time has robbed the Canadian flyer of some of its citizenship.

Gone is the original Canadian paint scheme, replaced by Battle of Britain colours, and much of its auction legend is of how Hurricanes secured U.K. skies.

The warbird now waits for the December auction at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England.

Among those who would like to see it back home is David Rohrer, CEO of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, near Hamilton, Ont.

In 1993, the museum lost its own Hurricane in a fire.

There's only one other known version, located in Quebec, that's still flying in Canada.

"There aren't many of them left with a Canadian history," said Rohrer, who's looking at putting together a possible consortium bid.

"It would be a tremendous aircraft to have back in Canada."

If that happens, our lost Hurricane would likely stay here. Designated as cultural property, it would be restricted from being lost again.
 
Source:   http://www.chathamdailynews.ca

Four alleged traffickers, including airline owner, get 6 months in prison to await trial

Santo Domingo. - A National District Permanent Attention judge sent four men to spend six months at Najayo prison to await trial, in the case involving alleged international drug traffickers and money launderers.

Judge Jose Alejandro Vargas handed down the rulings against Sergio René Gómez Díaz, Cristian Antonio Javier Suarez, Home Errol Outram and Rafael Rosado, charged with laundering money from drug trafficking and other crimes.

The judge ruled for the prosecution on its evidence, such as taped telephone conversations, photos of meetings between the accused, and testimony by agents, among others.

Investigators say Gomez Diaz, owner of several businesses including bars, "Passion Night Club" and the mall "Plaza Gómez Díaz," planned the transport of 500 kilos of cocaine from South America in his twin engine plane.

The National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) said it confirmed Gomez Diaz’s close ties with drug traffickers, Dominicans and Colombians and Europeans.

The DNCD said co-defendant Rosado, owner of the airline CaribAir, had sold a CESNNA 310 aircraft to Gomez Diaz, whom he met several times, as the prosecution’s photos show.

http://www.dominicantoday.com

American Air Says Performance Is Improving

By SUSAN CAREY 

The Wall Street Journal

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, beset by a spike in flight delays and cancellations in September, said in an internal memo Thursday that it is seeing encouraging improvement in its performance metrics so far in October, but "we are not yet back to the levels our customers deserve and expect."

An increase in pilot sick calls and maintenance write-ups in the second half of September, along with emergency inspections of some aircraft after seats came loose in three planes when they were aloft, contributed to the poor showing. FlightStats.com, a flight-tracking service, said American's flights arrived on time only 59% of the time in September, compared with percentages in the 80s for most of its rivals.

During September, American canceled 1,391 flights outright, nearly the equivalent of a full day's schedule of nearly 1,800 flights, a much higher proportion than its peers, FlightStats said.

American said in the memo Thursday that it has seen a 16% increase in its punctuality in the first nine days of October, and it has reduced its cancellations by 27%.

FlightStats.com data indicate that American is turning the corner. On Tuesday, for instance, 66% of its flights arrived on time, defined as within 14 minutes of schedule. That compared with 81% for the entire U.S. industry. And American canceled 18 flights, or 1% of the total. On Wednesday, FlightStats said, 64.5% of American's flights arrived punctually, compared with 79% for the industry, and 11 flights were canceled, or 0.6% of the schedule.

American spokesman Bruce Hicks said the company and its Allied Pilots Association union have resumed negotiations aimed at reaching a new labor contract. A majority of the 10,000 pilots rejected a proposed pact in August, and in September the bankruptcy judge overseeing AMR's restructuring granted the airline's motion to jettison the pilots' old contract and impose concessionary terms on the group. At that point, American said, an abnormal number of pilots called in sick and there was a marked increase in minor maintenance write-ups by the aviators.

In response, American said it was cutting its schedule by 1% to 2% through October and threatened to seek a judicial injunction to stop the disruptions. On Thursday, it said it would extend the capacity reduction to mid-November to help ensure that its operations resume a more normal pattern. The cuts won't affect holiday travel, it said. The company is also offering overtime and additional hours to its airport and reservations employees to better accommodate customer needs, and it's trying to move customers to other flights earlier if there is going to be a delay or cancellation.

The Allied Pilots Association has insisted that it isn't encouraging or condoning a job action. Now that the union and management are back at the bargaining table, the APA said it is seeking "an industry-standard" contract that would provide midcontract pay increases to reflect the superior terms enjoyed by pilots at Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL -0.61% and an agreement being firmed up to be considered by pilots at United Continental Holdings Inc. UAL -1.29% The union said earlier that it planned to meet with American managers every day this week.

 http://online.wsj.com

Crash over Coombe Abbey could have been avoided - inquest is told

A PLANE crash over Coventry could have been prevented, an air traffic controller has claimed.

Gary Smith made the split-second decisions moments before the crash back in 2008, which saw five people killed when two aircraft collided in mid-air.

He said priorities might have changed had he been made aware of the nature of one of the plane's flight.

Mr Smith was giving evidence today (Wednesday) on the third day of a jury inquest at Leamington Justice Centre into the deaths in 2008.

Killed in the crash, over Coombe Abbey on Sunday, August 17, were pilots Sophie Hastings and Sybille Gautrey, and passengers John Antrobus and James Beagley on board a Cessna 402, and Brian Normington, 70, from Blackdown near Leamington, who had piloted a Rand KR-2.

The Cessna crew, all employees of Baginton-based Reconnaissance Ventures Ltd (RVL), had been carrying out specific training which saw their plane travel 40 knots faster than usual.

However, when the crew had informed air traffic control of their intention the night before, the information was incorrectly categorised by a staff member.

Mr Smith said the airport was going through a difficult time with staffing and a previous manager had left just prior to the crash.

He claimed he had been informed the Cessna would travel at high speed, but not specifically 160 knots, during a staff handover.

Mr Smith, who now works at a different airport, described the safety assessment carried out as 'erroneous' and said he would normally expect six weeks notice.

He said he only had an 'inkling' of the plane's extra speed during an earlier approach.

"I believe the accident would have been resolved if safety had been better managed," he said.

"There could have been more restrictions on the circuit and the aircraft could be dealt with in a different priority."

It also emerged Mr Normington's plane was not fixed with a transponder device which could have helped avoid tragedy.

On Monday, the jury heard from Geraint Herbert, senior inspector of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, who said probable reasons for the crash included the pilots not seeing each other or having enough time to avoid a collision when they did. 

He showed how Mr Normington's plane, which he said was 'notoriously difficult to see', could have been in a blindspot from the cockpit of the Cessna 402.

The inquest is to hear from further witnesses including experts in flight safety and a boss from RVL, as well as Mr Herbert.

The inquest is expected continue into next week. See coventryobserver.co.uk for updates.

Read more: Crash over Coombe Abbey could have been avoided - inquest is told | Coventry Observer

GE Aviation to start hiring workers in March

ELLISVILLE, Miss. (AP) — GE Aviation will begin taking applications Nov. 5 for its new Ellisville, Miss., composites factory.

The unit of General Electric Co. made the announcement Thursday as Gov. Phil Bryant visited the nearly completed plant.

The company expects to hire 250 workers within five years to make composite parts for aircraft engines and systems.

Positions will be posted with the state's WIN Job Center in Laurel. GE Aviation plans to hire people in waves starting in March.

General Electric says it's investing $56 million in the Ellisville plant to meet growing aerospace demand. The state is providing $8 million in incentives. Connecticut-based GE expanded the plant from 300,000 square feet to 340,000 square feet before construction started.

The company has run a 450-employee composite plant in Batesville since 2008.

Source:  http://www.businessweek.com

1Time cuts planes, routes, warns on jobs

Cape Town - 1Time has cut two aircraft from its fleet and the airline’s CEO says there will have to be a number of staff cuts.

Blacky Komani, 1Time-CEO, says the numbers of staff cuts have not been finalized.

“We’re working with the unions to see what we can do. No-one wants staff cuts but we’re working with 8 planes instead of 10.”

The airline is currently under business rescue and is working on a rescue plan under the stewardship of Komani. The airline has been reported to be in debt of around R300m.

In April the airline reported a loss of R157m.

Komani says the creditors need to vote on the final business rescue plan and will do so within the next 14 days.

“The plans include the necessity for new aircraft,” Komani said.

1Time aircraft are among the oldest in commercial service in South Africa and known as fuel guzzlers of note.
With record oil prices, the airline is taking strain with the old aircraft.

Some of the routes 1Time has cut include all routes to and from Lanseria and flights to Mombasa have also been suspended.

“Zanzibar is still going strong as well as other routes that remain profitable.”

http://www.fin24.com

Florida Memorial University is flying high: Aviation program buys new plane

OPA LOCKA – The Florida Memorial University (FMU) Aviation and Safety Department ushered in a new era of excellence on Sept. 28 when more than 100 guests joined university officials and students at the Opa-Locka Airport to help dedicate the newest addition to the South Florida skies.

On a windy, blue-sky day, the new aircraft was taxied around to the canopy at Miami Executive Aviation where Dr. Henry Lewis III, FMU president, hopped out and addressed the enthusiastic crowd of elected officials, university representatives, airport executives, flight school personnel and FMU aviation students.

‘Dreams take flight’
 
“We are here to serve notice that Florida Memorial University is a place where dreams also take flight,” declared Lewis. “This new airplane allows our students to gain experience on state-of-the-art equipment and provides the greater community with stellar aviation professionals.”

The orange-and-blue Cessna 172 SP with top-level avionics is a single-engine, four-passenger aircraft that will allow students to earn various pilot licenses and instrument ratings. Mychal Martin, a recent FMU aviation graduate, was at the controls. He is now a certified flight instructor at Endeavor Flight Training, Inc.

Read more:  http://flcourier.com

Clarity Aerial Sensing Takes Delivery of First Diamond DA42 MPP Guardian Surveillance Aircraft

Bozeman, MT (PRWEB) October 11, 2012 

Clarity partners Ben Walton and Bryan O'Leary were on hand to accept the aircraft from Martin Scherrer from Diamond Airborne Sensing. The DA42 MPP GUARDIAN is the new generation of the twin engine Diamond surveillance and mapping aircraft that utilizes innovative and fuel-efficient Austro Diesel engines and burns only 7 gallons per hour while patrolling.

Clarity partner Loren Poulsen, Ph.D. comments, "After we received such an overwhelming response to this aircraft from our customers, we recognized that we needed to immediately purchase our first aircraft to get ahead of demand. There is really no other certified aircraft that offers so much capability at such a low cost to purchase and operate. We are confident that this aircraft will go on contract shortly."

Diamond Airborne Sensing Head of Sales for North America, Martin Scherrer says, "This is a great commitment by Clarity Aerial Sensing to the DA42 MPP aircraft and our partnership. It also demonstrates our joint effort in marketing the system to government and civilian customers, and the enthusiastic response we have received in just a few short months."

Clarity Chief Pilot Ben Walton, "The DA42 is a wonderful aircraft to fly, we have now demonstrated this aircraft to a number of organizations and our most common response has been "I love this aircraft". When you combine the twin-engine-digital control reliability, significant fuel savings with the silenced engines it can't be beat."

Clarity Aerial Sensing LLC is a Diamond Airborne Sensing Authorized Reseller specializing in low-cost aerial surveillance, mapping and photography solutions for law enforcement, border patrol, military, media, pipeline and power line patrol and aerial imagery and mapping. Clarity Aerial Sensing partners have sold 24 surveillance aircraft in the past three years, and over forty general aviation aircraft. In addition to sales, they provide turn-key contract and lease solutions, complete systems integration and training. They also operate eleven Diamond aircraft as part of an FAA Part 141 Flight School and FAA Part 135 Charter operation.

Diamond Airborne Sensing is based in Wiener Neustadt, Austria and a 100 per cent subsidiary of Diamond Aircraft Industries. The company provides total multi-mission aerial solutions based on the all-weather proven DA42 MPP airframe, which is also available as an unmanned and/or optional piloted version for three years. Diamond Airborne Sensing provides aircraft sales, complete integrated sensor solutions, training and global support to a fleet of 108 DA42 MPP aircraft in 28 countries.

http://www.prweb.com

F-15 has problem landing at Kingsley Field - Klamath Falls, Oregon

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — A jet fighter had a problem landing at the Oregon Air National Guard base in Klamath Falls.

Master Sgt. Jennifer Shirar says the pilot was unhurt after arresting cables were used to help stop the F-15C when it came in for a landing Tuesday afternoon after a routine training flight.

She says a board of investigating officers is looking into the incident. Details of the damage to the aircraft or the cause of the incident have not been released.

Shirar says they are not yet releasing whether the pilot was regular Air Force or Air National Guard.

Kingsley Field is home base to the Oregon Air National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing, which trains jet fighter pilots.

http://www.kgw.com

VIDEO: Martinaire Aviation, Cessna 208 Caravan, N9761B - West Branch, Michigan - October, 10, 2012

 

 http://flightaware.com/photo

Whistler, BC Canada: Helipad upgrades not one size fits all

It seems the issue with the Whistler’s Health Care Centre helipad is far from over.
 
This week The Question received information from an anonymous source that raised this topic we thought was resolved at the beginning of the summer. Yes the helipad is open, but not for all types of helicopters.

It appears the nuances between single-engine and twin-engine helicopters will continue to be a thorn in the side of emergency services in Whistler.

The two types of aircraft understandably have two sets of standards with Transport Canada, the regulatory body that oversees everything airborne. When Vancouver Coastal Health underwent changes to the helipad, it only set out to meet the standard for the larger, twin-engine aircraft, which coincidentally is what B.C.’s entire fleet of air ambulances operates.

So the safety regulations for single-engine helicopters were left unfixed, and for those of us who had to Google the difference between the two, it went unnoticed.

Not everybody in the helicopter industry has been keen to make the costly upgrade from singles to twins; the latter purported to provide better safety in the event of an engine failure. Therefore, not everybody flies them like the air ambulance service.

Blackcomb Aviation is often called out to rescue situations with injured people on the ski hill, in the backcountry and involved in motor vehicle accidents in the highway. Their fleet has 11 single-engine aircraft out of 16.

If they are in a situation where they only have a single engine to respond to a call out, it will have to fly to the Municipal Heliport past Emerald Estates and the injured person takes an 11-minute ambulance ride to the medical centre. It’s not like, in emergency situations, time is of the essence or anything of that sort. We’re sure the injured person will chalk up the added time and transfers from aircraft to ambulance to medical clinic as part of the overall visitor experience.

It seems that considering all possible emergency scenarios and planning to accommodate them while undergoing extensive and time consuming upgrades to the helipad and the surrounding area was too much to ask. Likely it would have added more delays to a process already criticized for taking to long.

The issue, it appears, is the trees in the surrounding area. The regulations would require extensive removal for an acceptable flight path. The helipad can handle the landing of both types of aircraft, just not the landing and approach of the single-engines.

VCH contends that tree removal is not its jurisdiction and it is up to the municipality to undertake that work. True enough, but it would have been nice to know that fact and its obvious implications for local rescue operations two years ago when this process began.

In situations like this, with government departments practicing the politics of omission when it comes to issues of public safety, that gets us a bit riled up here at The Question.

VCH’s handling of the upgrades to the helipad has been confusing, time consuming, and now it appears they also failed to accommodate all possible emergency situations and aircraft.

Source:   http://www.whistlerquestion.com

Air crash report: Businessman Mark Weir 'not qualified to fly at night'

A Cumbrian entrepreneur who was killed in his helicopter last year was 'not qualified to fly at night', a report has found.

Mark Weir, 45, from Cockermouth, died on 8 March 2011 after his helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from the Honister Slate Mine that he owned in the Lake District.

A report by the Air Accident Investigations Branch has found that Mr Weir did not hold a night-flying qualification and had taken off in 'challenging circumstances' with reduced visibility and low cloud.
The report said:

" A number of serious airworthiness issues were identified with the helicopter during the course of the investigation. None of these could be directly linked to the cause of the accident but did raise concerns regarding the way the helicopter was operated."

– Air Accident Investigation report

Mr Weir flew regularly between his home and the mine, which attracted 60,000 visitors a year.

The report also said there was no evidence of mechanical failure and that it was "not possible to determine the mechanism by which control was lost or disorientation occurred".

The full report follows:  http://www.itv.com

Miramar Air Show Gets Off The Ground This Week

 

 The Miramar Air Show is touted as the largest military air show in the United States. This year, the show takes place from October 12-14. 

Here's a link to the schedule of events.

The theme for the 2012 show is "Marines in Flight: Celebrating 50 Years of Space Exploration."

General admission to the show is free, as is parking and blanket seating. But you can also buy preferred seating for the grandstand, or even check out the show from the fancy-sounding "Flying Aces Club Chalet." Click here to find out about prices and venues.

But before you head out to MCAS Miramar have your mind blown by the Blue Angels and Robosaurus, the Marine team leaders at Miramar have a message for you, posted up top.

2013 Vectren Dayton Air Show to fly in June

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The Vectren Dayton Air Show will take to the sky a month earlier next year.

The 2013 show will be held on June 22 and 23 at the Dayton International Airport, air show officials said in an announcement Oct. 10, 2012.

“We thought we might experiment with holding the show in June when it's a little cooler,” said Michael Emoff, Chairman of the USATS Board of Trustees, the governing organization of the event.  “These dates also position us well to attract the best aviation talent to the show in 2013.”

2013 marks the 39th consecutive year for the show.    
 
Details on the lineup will be made public in December and announced on the show’s website www.daytonairshow.com . .

Alaska Airlines orders 50 Boeing jets worth $5 billion

Oct 11 (Reuters) - U.S. carrier Alaska Airlines said on Thursday it will buy 50 737 single-aisle jetliners, worth $5 billion at list prices, from Boeing Co in its largest order yet.

The order includes 37 of Boeing's upcoming 737 MAX, the new-engine variant of the popular 737 that offers better fuel efficiency. Alaska is also taking 13 Next-Generation extended-range 737 jets.

Alaska Airlines, whose parent is Alaska Air Group Inc , currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 120 737s, and signaled in a statement that it intends to have only Boeing jets for many years. It said the newest planes, most of which will replace older aircraft, are to be delivered between 2015 and 2022.

The 737 MAX is Boeing's answer to the Airbus A320neo jet, a revamp of the A320 family that will have more efficient engines. Airbus, a unit of Europe's EADS, and Boeing compete for the lion's share of a jet market estimated at $100 billion a year.

Earlier this month, Boeing reported an increase in orders for its third quarter, helped by the MAX.

It said the Alaska Airlines order brought the total number of MAX orders to 858 to date.

Boeing's shares were up 1.1 percent to $71.10 in morning trading, while Alaska Air was down 0.2 percent to $36.51.

http://www.reuters.com

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: Airline hits turbulence

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — The chief executive of South Africa's embattled national airline and two senior managers quit their jobs Monday, a week after the chairwoman and seven board members walked out, the company said.

South African Airways (SAA) would not divulge the reason for CEO Siza Mzimela's resignation.

"The airline views these resignations as a turbulence of a temporary nature which must not be allowed to affect its ability to discharge its core function in a responsible and prudent manner," said a statement.

Mzimela joined the company in 2010, after the removal of former chief Khaya Ngqula, who was investigated for financial mismanagement.

In a letter to her staff, seen by local radio station 702, Mzimela said her resignation was not "a random move".

She said: "I have given this decision careful thought and feel that now is the best time to relinquish my position as your CEO and allow somebody else to pilot the company into future."

The two general managers who tendered their resignations are Theunis Potgieter and Sandra Cotzee.

The ailing airline, which was last week granted a $600-million cash backstop by the government to stay afloat, is expected to post a $149-million loss this year, according to the Business Day daily.

The release of the airline's financial results had been delayed.

Former chairwoman, Cheryl Carolus attributed her resignation to a breakdown in the relationship with the government, the airline's main shareholder.

The government announced her replacement and that of the board members on the same day after her resignation.

The newly appointed chairman Vuyisile Kona will handle the running of the airline until a new CEO is found.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com

Piloting a vintage warplane takes extra study

By Cory Graff, Flying Heritage Collection

You know that uncomfortable feeling when you first sit in a rental car? Finding the seat adjustment handle, the fuel door release, and twisting the mirrors to the right spot? If locating the wiper switch on the car was as important as knowing how the landing gear handle worked on a plane, you'd take a bit more time to study before rolling out into the Vegas night, don't you think?

Our pilots have to study. Thousands of hours in an F/A-18 or 767 still leave gaps in your game when it comes to flying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 or a Zero. Our pilots read the pilot's manual again and again come in to the hangar and sit in the cockpit for a long, long time. This image shows pilot Ross Granley, studying the controls of the Il-2 Shturmovik.
 
Read more:  http://heraldnet.com

Palm Beach Post exclusive: Traffic patrol Sky cops snare speeders on the fly over South Florida

By Cynthia Roldan 
Palm Beach Post

Cops often have reminded drivers that an open road does not mean open season for speeding.

But according to state troopers, that seems to be the philosophy for drivers on Interstate 95 in northern Palm Beach County, which recently has been expanded from three to five lanes.

While the expansion — completed in December from PGA Boulevard to Donald Ross Road and in March from Donald Ross to Indiantown Road— means an easier commute for drivers, Florida Highway Patrol officials have noticed that more motorists are driving faster and, as a result, wrecks have gotten nastier.

“People just lose their minds when they get up here,” FHP Sgt. Jewrel Wigfall said.

Wigfall would know. He patrols the highway from 2,200 feet in the air in an FHP-issued single-engine Cessna airplane.

From his perch, he sees the drivers who think they can avoid tickets by slowing down when approaching areas where troopers normally hide their cars. No one thinks to look up when they are speeding, and Wigfall catches speeders before they can see the blue lights flashing.

But for the FHP it’s not just about citing fast drivers. It’s about preventing serious — in some cases fatal — crashes.

“When you see the results of someone who drives aggressively and speeds all of the time, and you see these deadly crashes, you learn that you don’t want to drive like that,” said Lt. Tim Frith, spokesman for FHP. “You can hurt someone or sometimes even kill someone.”

Read more:   http://www.palmbeachpost.com

Pilot lands plane safely at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on one landing gear

MANILA, Philippines -- A pilot made an emergency landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Thursday afternoon, safely guiding his plane down on only one landing gear.

The twin-engine C45 cargo aircraft, operated by CFA Aero Services, had just taken off for a “fish run” to Palawan when ground control advised Captain Roy Rala that its right landing gear had detached as soon as the plane was airborne.

After getting clearance from the control tower to make an emergency landing, Rala guided the plane to Runway 13/31, touching down at 2:19 p.m.

Rala steered the plane to the left to compensate for the missing right landing gear. The aircraft skidded briefly but suffered little damage.

Rala and his co-pilot, Earl Macasi, were to pick up a cargo of fish from the Francisco Reyes Airport in Busuanga, Palawan when they were informed of the detached landing gear around 1:35 p.m.

The incident caused minimal air traffic congestion as emergency crews quickly towed the plane from the runway.

http://www.interaksyon.com

NTSB: Warning signs unheeded in Gulfstream GVI (G650), N652GD crash --- Accident occurred Saturday, April 02, 2011 in Roswell, New Mexico

By Mary Carr Mayle,  Savannah Morning News

Savannah Now

Warning signs from previous test flights of the Gulfstream G650 business jet were not properly evaluated before the aircraft crashed during takeoff trials in New Mexico last year, safety experts said Wednesday at a National Transportation Safety Board meeting in Washington, D.C.

The crash, which occurred April 2, 2011, in Roswell, N.M., during a takeoff run simulating late-stage engine failure, resulted in the deaths of all four Gulfstream employees on board: experimental test pilots Kent Crenshaw and Vivan Ragusa and technical specialists David McCollum and Reece Ollenburg.

“Two prior close calls should have prompted a yellow flag, but instead of slowing down to analyze what had happened, the program continued full speed ahead,” NTSB chairwoman Deborah Hersman said in her opening comments.

“In this investigation, we saw an aggressive flight test schedule and pressure to get the aircraft certified,” she said. “Assumptions and errors were made, but they were neither reviewed nor evaluated when review data was collected.”

In a submission to the agency dated May 21 of this year and placed on the NTSB public docket in June, Gulfstream said the company “accepts full responsibility for the accident.”

“Developmental flight test is inherently risky, but risks can and should be appropriately mitigated,” the Gulfstream report stated.

Among the factors Gulfstream listed as likely leading to the crash were an overestimation of the angle at which the aircraft could safely lift off and a takeoff speed schedule that was not properly developed or verified, resulting in an unachievable test point for the accident run.

“Gulfstream’s internal analysis, review and approval processes did not identify those two errors prior to field performance flight testing,” the report stated, adding that “two prior wing drop events in the G650 field performance program and other flight test anomalies arising from these improper speed schedules were not widely reviewed or properly understood.”

Although the NTSB’s final written report is still a few weeks away, most insiders have suggested from the beginning that the crash had more to do with the process than the airplane itself.

“It doesn’t matter who you are — Gulfstream, Bombardier, Airbus,” said a former test pilot familiar with business aviation. “When you are developing a new product, the pressure to get it certified in a timely manner is huge.”

That Gulfstream cited a breakdown in its internal analysis, review and approval processes indicated the crash was most likely a result of human error rather than any structural issues with the aircraft, he said.

It’s also important to remember that tests such as the ones the Gulfstream crew was performing the day of the fatal crash are part of the risks associated with the development of a new airplane, Chris Dancy, spokesman for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, said at the time.

“In order to achieve FAA certification, flight-test crews have to determine the safe operating parameters of the aircraft,” Dancy said. “They have to be able to answer questions like, ‘What happens if you lose an engine during takeoff?’

“With every new aircraft, the performance envelope has to be defined, and qualified flight-test crews then fly to the edge of that envelope.”

Hersman said at the close of the hearing that Gulfstream recognized that many changes needed to be made and has begun to implement them.

The company has taken several steps to improve safety since the accident, including the appointment of an aviation safety official who reports directly to the firm’s president and enhanced communication throughout the company, Gulfstream spokeswoman Heidi Fedak said.

Gulfstream released the following statement at the conclusion of Wednesday’s hearing:

“We appreciate the National Transportation Safety Board’s commitment to thoroughly examining this accident and determining its cause. Gulfstream has and will continue to support the families of the flight crew of Aircraft 6002. Their well-being remains a top consideration of everyone at Gulfstream.

“Safety is Gulfstream’s first priority. Since this accident, we have redoubled our efforts to strengthen the safety culture in flight test and throughout the rest of the company. We are committed to continuous safety improvement.”

The NTSB also released a list of 19 findings, a statement of probable cause and 10 recommendations — two of which were directed at Gulfstream.

The G650 — which is manufactured at Gulfstream headquarters in Savannah — received its certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in September, and the company is preparing to deliver it to customers by the end of this year, Fedak said.

“We can’t change what happened” the day the jet crashed in New Mexico, Hersman said.

“But we owe it to the four flight test professionals who lost their lives to make sure we learn from it.”

NTSB’S STATEMENT ON PROBABLE CAUSE

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the cause of this accident was an aerodynamic stall and subsequent uncommanded roll during a one engine-inoperative takeoff flight test, which were the result of (1) Gulfstream’s failure to properly develop and validate takeoff speeds for the flight tests and recognize and correct the takeoff safety speed (V2) error during previous G650 flight tests, (2) the G650 flight test team’s persistent and increasingly aggressive attempts to achieve V2 speeds that were erroneously low, and (3) Gulfstream’s inadequate investigation of previous G650 uncommanded roll events, which indicated that the company’s estimated stall angle of attack while the airplane was in ground effect was too high.

Contributing to the accident was Gulfstream’s failure to effectively manage the G650 flight test program by pursuing an aggressive program schedule without ensuring that the roles and responsibilities of team members had been appropriately defined and implemented, engineering processes had received sufficient technical planning and oversight, potential hazards had been fully identified, and appropriate risk controls had been implemented and were functioning as intended.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GULFSTREAM

• Commission an audit by qualified independent safety experts, before the start of the next major certification flight test program, to evaluate the company’s flight test safety management system, with special attention given to the areas of weakness identified in this report, and address all areas of concern identified by the audit.

• Provide information about the lessons learned from the implementation of its flight test safety management system to interested manufacturers, flight test industry groups, and other appropriate parties.

GULFSTREAM G650’S ILL-FATED FLIGHT

Here’s the transcript of the final moments of the Gulfstream G650 test flight that crashed April 2, 2011:

09:33:17.00 — Take-off roll starts

09:33:45.70 — Co-pilot: “Rotate”

09:33:49.00 — Pitch angle increased to 9?

09:33:50.05 — Pitch angle at 11.2? (stall)

09:33:50.06 — Right wheel lifts off

09:33:50.10 — Left wheel lifts off

09:33:52.30 — Stick shaker/right wing scrape

09:33:53.06 — Bank angle warning sounds

09:33:54.30 — Pilot: “Power power power”

09:33:55.20 — Co-pilot: “Power, power, power’s up”

09:33:56.60 — Pilot: “Power, power, power”

09:33:58.05 — Bank angle warning sounds

09:34:00.00 — Pilot: “Ah sorry guys”

09:34:02.40 — Triple chime warning alarm sounds

09:34:10.03 — End of recording

Source: NTSB/Gulfstream

ABOUT THE CRASH

The two flight-test pilots and two flight-test engineers on board survived the initial impact but were almost immediately overcome by smoke and fire and were not able to exit the aircraft.

The crew had been performing its ninth flight of the day, a heavy take-off weight field test with the right engine idle — a test used to determine the lift-off and climb-out speeds needed to develop procedures for pilots in the event of engine failure late in a take-off run.

Post-crash analyses revealed the stall angle for the aircraft to be lower than originally anticipated.

http://savannahnow.com

NTSB Identification: DCA11MA076 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 02, 2011 in Roswell, NM
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM GVI, registration: N652GD
Injuries: 4 Fatal.

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 traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On April 2, 2011, about 0934 mountain daylight time, a Gulfstream GVI (G650) airplane, N652GD, was substantially damaged after impact with terrain during takeoff at Roswell International Air Center Airport (ROW), Roswell, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The two flight crewmembers and the two technical crewmembers were fatally injured. The flight had originated from ROW about 0700 for a local area flight.

The airplane was operating under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Experimental Certificate of Airworthiness and was performing a take off with a simulated engine failure to determine take-off distance requirements at minimum flap setting.

Wingtip scrape marks beginning on the runway approximately 5,300 feet from the end of the runway lead toward the final resting spot about 3,800 feet from the first marks on the runway. Witnesses close to the scene saw the airplane sliding on the ground with sparks and smoke coming from the bottom of the wing, and described the airplane being fully involved in fire while still moving across the ground. The airplane struck several obstructions and came to rest upright about 200 feet from the base of the airport control tower. Several airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) units responded quickly and fought the fire.