Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Piper PA-34-220T, N730CB: Incident occurred September 14, 2016 in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin

COBALT BOATS LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N730CB

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Milwaukee FSDO-13

AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP, JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN. 

Date: 14-SEP-16
Time: 17:25:00Z
Regis#: N730CB
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA34
Event Type: Incident
Highest Injury: None
Damage: Unknown
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: JANESVILLE
State: Wisconsin

Cessna 120, N4059N: Incident occurred June 08, 2016 - Very violent wind storm while aircraft tied down; aircraft thrashed violently against its tie-down restraints













AIRCRAFT:   1947 Cessna 120, N4059N  SN# 13517

ENGINE:       Continental C85-12F SN# 27414-7-12

PROPELLER::  McCauley, 1B90-CM7148  SN# 79203

APPROXIMATE TOTAL HOURS (estimated TT & TSMO from logbooks or other information):

ENGINE:    Total time 3,811.27  -  SMOH 696.37 at time of wind storm

PROPELLER:  Original propeller; 3,811.27 hours

AIRFRAME:      3,811.27 hours                

OTHER EQUIPMENT:      King KT-76; Bendix/King KLX 135A; Sigtronics SPO-22

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:  Very violent wind storm on 6/8/2016 while aircraft tied down. Video shows that the aircraft thrashed violently against its tie-down restraints. Sixty foot trees in the local area were uprooted.

DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGES: Rudder shows denting on both sides and is jammed in position, apparently broken free from internal supports and cables.  The left aileron shows evidence of push rods being bent and wing attachments wrenched free.  The right aileron is possibly damaged in similar fashion to the left.  The left wing shows evidence of being pulled free and rearward from its attachments to the fuselage.                  

LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT:   New Garden Airport, West Grove, PA     

Read more here:  http://www.avclaims.com/N4059N.htm

Progressive Aerodyne Searey, N801SR: Accident occurred August 23, 2016 at Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF), Highlands County, Florida

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
  
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N801SR

Location: Sebring, FL
Accident Number: ERA16LA299
Date & Time: 08/23/2016, 1500 EDT
Registration: N801SR
Aircraft: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE INC SEAREY
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On August 23, 2016, about 1500 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Searey, N801SR, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power during initial climb from Sebring Regional Airport (SEF), Sebring, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by the student pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot flew the airplane earlier during the day from Bartow, Florida to Sebring. The airplane was to remain in Sebring for the duration of the instructional lessons. After lunch and a brief overview of the lesson to follow, the flight instructor and student pilot performed another preflight inspection of the airplane and taxied to the runway. Immediately after takeoff, approximately 200 feet above ground level, the engine started running rough and "sputtering." The flight instructor immediately decreased the angle of attack and the engine lost all power. The flight instructor then tried to land on the runway. The airplane landed "hard," slid into an embankment and became airborne briefly before coming to rest.

The two-seat, high-wing amphibious airplane, serial number 1MK283, was assembled from a kit in 2001. It was powered by a Rotax 914ULS, 115-horsepower engine, equipped with a three-blade INO propeller. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual condition inspection was completed on March 3, 2016. At that time, the total airframe time was 1,058 hours, and the total time for the engine was 358 hours.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had incurred damage to the fuselage and the left main landing gear had separated from the fuselage. The examination further revealed that the electric turbo control unit had been removed from the airplane. Instead, a manual lever installed the cockpit, operated by the pilot, moved the waste gate open and closed. The manifold air pressure gauge line was disconnected and capped off at the engine; however, the gauge was not marked "inoperative." The tachometer was also inoperative. A small amount of fuel was siphoned out of the main fuel tank and it was observed to be automotive fuel with no water present. There were numerous wires splices behind the instrument panel with different gauge wiring on each wire run. It was noted that the wrong size wire connectors were used on different instruments with the blade type connectors. One ground wire was found off the back of the starter key switch, which was the ground for the master arm solenoid. With this wire off the switch, power from the battery was disconnected from the electrical system.

The airplane was secured to a trailer and the engine was started. A magneto check was performed on the engine and both magnetos operated normally. The ground wire was then removed from the back of the starter switch to test the rectifier system on the engine. The engine continued to run without the battery connected to the system as per the manual. The voltage was checked on the output of the rectifier and it was measured to be 12.3 volts. Without the battery connected, the fuel boost pumps, landing gear motor, and the strobe lights would all be placing a load on the rectifier. The normal rectifier output was 13.5 + .2 volts. The engine was shut down with normal procedures.

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Flight Engineer
Age: 78, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Multi-engine Sea; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider; Helicopter
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/16/2015
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 34000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 95 hours (Total, this make and model)

Student Pilot Information

Certificate:
Age:, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  0 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE INC
Registration: N801SR
Model/Series: SEAREY NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2001
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 1MK283
Landing Gear Type: Amphibian
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/03/2016, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1370 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1058 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: 914ULS
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 115 hp
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: KOBE, 33 ft msl
Observation Time: 1500 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 29 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 114°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 5000 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C / 23°C
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots, 20°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.12 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Sebring, FL (SEF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sebring, FL (SEF)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1500 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Sebring Regional Airport (SEF)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 62 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 19
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5234 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 27.462222, -81.344167

NTSB Identification: ERA16LA299
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 23, 2016 in Sebring, FL
Aircraft: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE INC SEAREY, registration: N801SR
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 may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On August 23, 2016 about 1500 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Searey, N801SR, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while attempting to depart from Sebring Regional Airport (SEF), Sebring, Florida. The flight instructor incurred minor injuries and the student pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot flew the airplane earlier in the day from Bartow, Florida to Sebring. The airplane was to remain in Sebring for the duration of the instructional lessons. After lunch and a brief overview of the lesson to follow, the instructor and student performed another preflight inspection of the airplane and taxied to the runway. Immediately after takeoff, approximately 200 feet above ground level, the engine starting running rough and "sputtering." The flight instructor immediately decreased the angle of attack and the engine lost all power. The flight instructor then tried to land on the runway. The airplane landed "hard" slid into an embankment, and became airborne briefly before coming to rest.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it airplane had incurred damage to the fuselage and the left main landing gear had separated from the fuselage.

The airplane, which was equipped with a Rotax 914ULS, 115 horsepower engine was retained for further examination.



A seaplane, an amphibious aircraft, was involved in an accident at Sebring Regional Airport around 3 p.m. Tuesday. 

Airport director Mike Willingham said two people were injured and were transported to the hospital. “Their injuries did not appear to be life threatening,” he said. 

One runway was closed Tuesday afternoon after the accident, Willingham said. 

EMS and a fire department were on the scene, and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office had taken control of the accident scene, Willingham said Tuesday afternoon.

Commissioners to hear Carlisle Airport (N94) purchase presentation in coming months



The possibility of public ownership of the Carlisle Airport is moving forward and the Cumberland County Commissioners are likely to hear a formal presentation in the coming months.

In May, several municipalities — including Carlisle, South Middleton Township, North Middleton Township and the county — took part in a public ownership workgroup to discuss the purchase of the airport by a government entity, according to Mary Kuna, market development manager for the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation.

A formal presentation is expected to be made to the commissioners in September or October. This presentation would likely include the potential price tag for the purchase and possibilities for how the ownership structure would work, Kuna said.

“The airport is financially stable,” she said. “It’s filled to capacity. It’s been very beneficial to businesses in the area and the tourism side of the house.”

The airport is currently owned by a group of six investors who Kuna said were getting to the age where they may no longer be interested in owning it. She explained that public purchase of the airport would guarantee it remains in service and not purchased as developable land.

Public ownership would also allow for federal dollars to aid in improvements, Kuna said.

Currently, the state can cover up to 75 percent of capital improvements at the privately owned, publicly accessible airport.

If it is publicly owned, up to 90 percent of improvements are covered by the Federal Aviation Administration, with the other 10 percent split between the state and local municipal ownership, according to Kuna.

“It’s turning a profit right now,” Kuna said. “Imagine what other businesses could fly their planes in there and start utilizing it.”

Kuna said that even with improvements the airport would still primarily be used for things like private jets and would not be able to house a commercial airline company.

“That’s really the logic behind public ownership. It’s to preserve it and protect this resource that we have,” Kuna said. “When you think about it, it’s the only airport that really serves this area and this region.”

Source:  http://cumberlink.com

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (KSHD) worthy of federal investment

Some taxpayers were dismayed last week to hear that the federal government is paying for almost $2 million in safety upgrades at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave.

Why is the Federal Aviation Administration providing so much money to an airport where just a small fraction of the traffic is generated by a scheduled airline?

SHD — as it is known by its airport code — is Virginia’s smallest commercial airport. Silver Airways, a United Airlines regional airline, is SHD’s sole passenger carrier, with three weekday departures and arrivals and skimpier service on weekends.

A market as small as ours is lucky to have any passenger service and is only guaranteed it by the federal Essential Air Service program, established post-deregulation to keep unprofitable airports open to passenger traffic. Thanks to industry consolidation and SHD’s low demand, a second airline is not likely in the near future.

Even so, private and business aviation remain strong at SHD, and a Virginia Department of Aviation study says SHD adds an estimated $26 million annually to Augusta County’s economy. On Tuesday, flights were in and out of SHD from Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, many representing the region’s largest employers. It’s as intregal to the local economy as the Interstate highways or the railroad network.

Would naysayers rather SHD become a place to grow corn rather than a vital link in the local economy?

The federal program paying for the safety upgrades is entirely user-funded. Airline ticket taxes and non-airline jet fuel taxes cover the costs. If you don’t fly, none of your tax dollars are going to the safety upgrades.

Our view is that SHD is an important part of our local infrastructure. If federal dollars are available to keep it maintained and safe, then of course SHD should take advantage of that funding. Further, infrastructure investments in safety are an excellent use of tax dollars.

The alternative is an outdated airport that is even less attractive to all carriers, and even worse, less safe.

Source: http://www.newsleader.com/opinion

Cessna 172, N96172: Aircraft suffered hard landing to nose during pilot training























AIRCRAFT: 1983 Cessna 172 N96172, s/n: 17276031

ENGINE:  Lycoming O-320 DJ2, s/n: L-17571-3A installed during annual inspection on 10/31/2015 after overhaul.

PROPELLER:  McCauley 1C160/DTM 7667, s/n: XG44024

APPROXIMATE TOTAL HOURS (estimated TT & TSMO from logbooks or other information - LOGS ARE INCOMPLETE):

ENGINE:   Zero TSMOH at Annual inspection on 10/31/2015.

PROPELLER:    TSMO 3661.5 

AIRFRAME:         8304.3             

OTHER EQUIPMENT:  
In custody of SIAI.
Bendix/KingKMA24 Audio Panel
Bendix/King KT76A transponder
KingKN64 DME
King KX155 NAV/COM
King KX155 NAV/COM
     
DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:  Aircraft suffered hard landing to nose during pilot training.

DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGES:  
There is damage to the nose section including the propeller, broken nose strut, broken wheel, damaged cowling, wrinkled firewall, and wrinkled floorboards.  
The engine experienced a prop strike. 
The left wingtip contacted the ground and has broken/cracked tip cap and scraped paint.

LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT:  Aircraft is tied down at Grand Bahama International Airport, Freeport, Bahamas

REMARKS:  Logs and avionics are in the custody of SIAI Adjuster Riner.  

LOGS ARE INCOMPLETE.  AIRFRAME logbooks include  "#5" from December 11, 1998 to January 29, 2003 and #6 from August 13, 2003 to 10/31/2015 (last annual inspection)

ENGINE - engine was installed on October 31, 2015 and last entry is December 12, 2015. (There are also some old engine logs.)

PROPELLER - Propeller logs from when it was installed February 2, 2004 through October 31, 2015.

Read more here:  http://www.avclaims.com/N96172.htm

Federal Aviation Administration swings back, says local officials ‘misrepresented’ what they were told: After meeting with FAA, Zeldin and local officials blame Schumer for lack of progress on helicopter noise

Supervisor Sean Walter with Rep. Lee Zeldin at yesterday's press conference.


Relations between local officials and the Federal Aviation Administration, at odds for several years over helicopter flight paths, grew even more turbulent after the two town supervisors on the North Fork yesterday accused federal regulators —and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer — of being less than forthright.

Yesterday, Rep. Lee Zeldin, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell and Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter took the senator to task for what they said was his role in the four-year extension of an FAA-approved helicopter route that has East Hampton-bound helicopters flying over North Fork homes. The extension was put in place by the FAA this month without any public comment period and with no notice to local officials, who said yesterday Schumer knew about it well in advance and in fact applied “political pressure” to get the FAA to adopt the four-year extension in that manner.


FAA representatives made that clear at yesterday morning’s meeting in Ronkonkoma, Zeldin and the town supervisors said at a press conference in Riverhead yesterday. Today, the FAA fired back, accusing the officials of misrepresenting what was said at the meeting.


“Comments an FAA employee made yesterday about the North Shore Helicopter Route were misrepresented,” the agency said in a written statement.


“Media have reported the claim that there was a secret deal regarding the North Shore Helicopter Route. There was no secret deal with Senator Schumer or anyone else. Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Congressman Zeldin have been unequivocal in their strong support for all over-water helicopter routes on Long Island to augment existing routes,” the statement said. “Both Senator Schumer and Congressman Zeldin have articulated the same concerns to the FAA regarding impacts to their constituents and have been equally forceful in expressing their shared position to extend the helicopter route around Orient Point, Shelter Island, and Plum Island as soon as possible.”


“I wonder if Sen Schumer wrote that himself,” Russell mused. “Obviously, the FAA has generally been an agency that is there to advance the agenda of the senator to the exclusion of all others. Apparently, they are his mouthpiece, too.”


Walter said the local officials “absolutely did not misrepresent” what was said by FAA officials at yesterday’s meeting. “They were very clear,” he said.


Zeldin issued a statement this afternoon saying he’d had “a very good conversation” with Schumer’s “senior staff” this morning and the senator “supports extending the North Shore route around Orient Point while also lifting the hold to create a mandatory South Shore route.”


The congressman promised to “continue to do everything in my power to assist” Riverhead and Southold towns. Failure cannot be an option with so much at stake for North Fork residents who want to see an end to this annual headache.”


“Failure cannot be an option with so much at stake for North Fork residents who want to see an end to this annual headache,” Zeldin said.


Asked to directly respond to the FAA statement that officials at yesterday’s press conference “misrepresented” what the regulators told them at yesterday morning’s meeting, Zeldin’s communication director said in an email:


“While the FAA evolves their story line, Congressman Zeldin is committed to working with anyone who wants to help push the FAA to implement an acceptable solution. The solution is an all-water route, not the status quo. There is also absolutely no need in 2016 for the FAA to still be searching for data to fix the mess that they created.”


Russell told Southold Town Board members at this morning’s work session that yesterday’s meeting with FAA reps was “eye-opening.”


“In the past we’ve met with FAA reps and asked questions and got blank stares,” the supervisor said.


He was especially struck by the FAA’s admission, he said, that the “requisite studies” had not been done prior to implementing the North Shore rule on a “temporary basis” for two years in 2012, or before extending it for two years in 2014, or for four years in 2016.


“They say they’re doing [the studies] now,” Russell said. “They said they haven’t mandated a south shore route because they haven’t done the studies and it would be arbitrary and capricious. Well, we know all about arbitrary and capricious here on the North Fork,” he said.


Source:   http://riverheadlocal.com 







Rep. Lee Zeldin, left, held a press conference today at Riverhead Town Hall to discuss a meeting with representatives of the FAA, which he set up to find out why the agency extended the north shore helicopter route with no notice or comment period.



Rep. Lee Zeldin and local elected officials came out of a meeting with FAA officials this morning saying they were disturbed to learn that the four-year extension of the north shore helicopter route that took effect this month was the result of “political pressure.”

But they said they were not entirely surprised.

The officials believe that the U.S. senators from New York, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, could solve the helicopter noise problems of North Fork residents if they really wanted to. But they lack the will or the interest and haven’t really been helpful, they said.

Or worse.

The group met with about a dozen FAA representatives, including a “key” Washington staffer, in Ronkonkoma this morning to complain about the way the FAA implemented an extension of the north shore route — on an “emergency” basis, without the opportunity for public comment and without notifying local elected officials, including the congressman, in advance.

They said they learned what Zeldin called “disturbing news”: Sen. Chuck Schumer was having a dialogue and working directly with the FAA’s Washington office to extend the route for four years, Zeldin charged.

Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter was more blunt. He said Schumer “negotiated…a secret deal with the FAA to put his flawed north shore route into effect without the public’s input.”
Walter called for the public to protest outside the senators’ offices.

“They’re not paying attention,” Walter said. “The only way you’re going to get that is if we start protesting in front of their offices.”

Southold Supervisor Scott Russell said Schumer gave local officials “every indication he was fighting against the extension.”

“I would implore the senator to come clean, to admit that he wasn’t, admit that he wasn’t honest to the public and say he’s going to do better this time,” Russel said.

The north shore route was adopted by the FAA as a temporary measure in 2012. It requires helicopter pilots to fly over the L.I. Sound from NYC to eastern Riverhead Town, where they can head south to their destination — typically East Hampton airport. It also requires pilots to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,500 feet over land.

But pilots are given much discretion in choosing to adhere to the route — or not. And very many do not. The noise disturbs and upsets local residents who say it deprives them of enjoyment of their homes and yards.

Local residents and officials continue to press for the FAA to adopt a mandatory over-water south shore route for all helicopter traffic bound for south shore airports.

Zeldin previously advocated an extension of the north shore route for no more than one year, so the FAA could work out permanent rules — as long as the route mandated helicopters to fly over water out past Orient Point.

Instead, the route was extended for four years and it was not mandated to be an all-water route as requested. The decision angered residents and officials who fear another four years of low-flying helicopters disturbing North Fork residents’ quality of life. But the way the decision was made added insult to injury, officials said. Rather than publish a proposed rulemaking 30 days in advance as mandated by federal law, the FAA acted on an “emergency” basis, adopting the route extension with no notice or opportunity for comment.

Today, Zeldin said Schumer was either complicit in that turn of events or even responsible for it.

“The decision for the extension of the north shore route, which we found out about on a Saturday afternoon just before it dropped in the Federal Register on Monday, a decision that lacked any transparency and any ability for public comment, was worked through the Washington D.C. office with Senator Schumer,” Zeldin said. “Senator Schumer was given at least 30 days notice of the decision and we all found out about it after the decision was made and moments before it was made public,” he said.

“It’s time to put politics aside,” Zeldin said. “It’s important for those two United States senators to weigh in and help — and not do anything inconsistent behind the scenes because it might come back and catch up to you, as it did with what was told to us at this morning’s meeting.”

A spokesperson for Sen. Schumer disputed the version of events presented at today’s press conference.

“Senator Schumer has long supported and fought for an all-over-water North Shore helicopter route that extends the current route past Orient Point and around Plum Island, as well as the establishment of an all-over-water south shore route,” Schumer spokesperson Angelo Roefaro said. “He strongly urged the FAA to expand the current north shore route to help the thousands of East End residents who are continuously burdened by the constant drone of helicopter noise. He will continue to side with concerned residents to ensure their voices are heard.”

Zeldin urged residents to keep up the pressure on the FAA with phone calls and complaints. He said individual residents need to contact the agency and not just rely on the leaders of civic groups. The FAA seems not to recognize civic leaders as voices for large groups of people, he said.

The congressman said he and town officials have “all options on the table,” including legislation and litigation — as well as possibly petitioning the FAA to change the rule. Zeldin said the suggestion by FAA officials that the towns draft and file such a petition — which would be expensive — was offensive since the FAA could change the rule on its own.

The FAA believes the north shore route is “equitable and acceptable,” Zeldin said. “They need to change their definition of what “equitable and acceptable” is, he said.

FAA representatives provided local officials with satellite images on which helicopter flight paths and altitudes were indicated for blocks of time on four dates in the past month: Friday, July 15 from 5 a.m. to 12 noon; Thursday, Aug. 4 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 7, from 12 noon to 11 p.m.; and Monday Aug. 8, from 5 a.m, to 12 noon.

The images showed a total of 407 trips during 33 hours: 251 flew a north shore route and 156 flew a south shore route. The images show flights in the altitude ranges of “surface to 2500 feet” in pink and “2500 feet to 3500 feet” in green.

Source:   http://riverheadlocal.com

Refueling truck collision at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (KPHX) causes fuel leak



Jet fuel leaked onto the ground at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday morning after a fuel tank on a refueling truck was punctured, according to the Phoenix Fire Department.

Hazardous materials teams arrived quickly and contained the spill, and no injuries, evacuations or traffic problems were reported, according to the department.

The truck carrying Jet A fuel punctured its tank while turning a corner at the airport's West Cargo Complex, the department said.

Moving the fuel from the damaged truck to another truck will be done by the hazardous materials teams in coordination with crews from other agencies and will take time, the department said.

Numerous crews were on the scene for safety reasons, the department said.

Operations at Sky Harbor were unaffected by the spill, which was not near the terminals, said Julie Rodriguez, public information officer at Sky Harbor.

Source:   http://www.azcentral.com

CubCrafters CCK-1865, Seawind LLC, N89XL: Incident occurred August 23, 2016 in New Salem, Franklin County, Massachusetts

SEAWIND LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N89XL

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Windsor Locks FSDO-63

Date: 23-AUG-16
Time: 19:19:00Z
Regis#: N89XL
Event Type: Incident
Highest Injury: None
Damage: None
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: NEW SALEM
State: Massachusetts

AIRCRAFT, EXPERIMENTAL CUB CRAFTERS CCK1865, FORCE LANDED ON A SAND BAR AT A RESERVOIR, NEAR NEW SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.



PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Massachusetts State Police have identified Guillaume de Ramel, 42, of Newport as the pilot who made the emergency landing on the Western Massachusetts reservoir. No one was hurt in the emergency landing.

Mechanical problems were to blame for the forced landing, police say. 

State police tell NBC 10 News that the plane was removed from the sandbar on Wednesday afternoon. 

De Ramel, a philanthropist and business entrepreneur, lost Democratic primaries for Rhode Island Secretary of State in 2006 and 2014. He also launched the de Ramel Foundation, which funded a number of initiatives in Rhode Island.

A plane enthusiast, de Ramel has been a licensed private plane pilot since the age of 17. De Ramel was the driving force behind the construction of 10 light plane hangars that now stand at the Newport State Airport.

The plane, which Guillaume landed safely, is a CubCrafters CCK-1865 with tail number N89XL, according to state police. Guillaume could not be reached for comment. 

Police also tell NBC 10 News that a private helicopter landed in the Ashland Reservoir on Wednesday. There was only one occupant and no one was injured.


Source:   http://turnto10.com




NEW SALEM, Mass. (WWLP) – A plane that has been stuck on a sandbar on the Quabbin Reservoir in New Salem will be carried away by a helicopter Wednesday, about 24 hours after it made an emergency landing there.

The pilot, a 42 year-old man from Newport, Rhode Island, had reported engine trouble before landing the plane on the sandbar in Tuesday afternoon. He was unhurt in the incident, and the CubCrafters CCK-1865 plane is intact.

Representatives from the FAA, NTSB, and Massachusetts State Police interviewed the pilot on both Tuesday and Wednesday. At this point, he is not being fined or cited.

The pilot himself has hired a crew to bring in a helicopter that is going to carry the plane to the nearby Orange Airport.

The Quabbin Reservoir provides the public water supply to Boston and surrounding cities and towns, as well as three western Massachusetts communities: Chicopee, Wilbraham, and South Hadley (Fire District 1). Much of the land surrounding the reservoir is not open to the public.

22News reporter Ryan Walsh got on board a boat and traveled out on the Quabbin Reservoir to find the boat. See the aircraft being lifted away tonight on 22News starting at 5:00.


Source:   http://wwlp.com



NEW SALEM, Mass. — An experimental plane is stuck in the mud on a sandbar in the Quabbin Reservoir after the pilot attempted a touch-and-go landing Tuesday afternoon.

William Pula from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation said the small plane from Rhode Island is intact and a protective boom will be set up around the landing site, though there is no evidence of a spill.

The pilot, a 42-year-old man from Newport, R.I., was not injured, said Massachusetts State Police.

The landing surprised Kim and John Kenney of West Brookfield, who were out enjoying the water on a boat rented from boat launch area 2.

“We heard the plane and there was no sound of a crash,” Ms. Kenney said. “Then a fisherman came around the corner and yelled, ‘Call 911.’ ”

Not long after state police helicopters hovered overhead and state police boats raced to the down plane. They found the pilot, who appeared uninjured, Mr. Pula said.

Mr. Kenney said the plane was obviously bogged down in the soft sand and he could hear the pilot revving the engine in an effort to take off again.

The Kenneys said the plane was about the size of a Cessna.

DCR officials were making plans to test water in the area where the plane was mired in sand north of Mount Russ and Mount L.

The low water level is creating challenges for those working on a plan to retrieve the plane.

The pilot was taken to the state police barracks in Belchertown. State watershed regulations prohibit the landing of any aircraft on the reservoir, watershed property and lands managed by DCR, an official from the agency said.

Source:   http://www.providencejournal.com



At 2:52 p.m., troopers assigned to the State Police Barracks in Belchertown and the Air Wing, along with FAA and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) personnel, responded to calls of a plane landing inside the Quabbin Reservoir. The pilot contacted State Police communicating that he had landed his plane on a sandbar due to mechanical issues and was not injured.

Troopers responding confirmed that the pilot, a 42-year old Newport, Rhode Island man, was uninjured and that the plane was intact. The plane,a Seawind with tail number N89XL, is a 2015 fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft. The location the plane departed from and its destination are unknown at this time. There are no reports of any environmental concerns to the Quabbin Reservoir. The investigation is ongoing and plans for removal of the plane from the sandbar are still underway.

Source:   http://www.mspnews.org

Past


Present


NEW SALEM, Mass. (WWLP) – Massachusetts State Police say a Newport man was piloting the small plane that made an emergency landing Tuesday afternoon on a sandbar in the Quabbin Reservoir.

According to State Police Media Relations, the pilot was not injured in the incident. 

The pilot did report engine problems prior to landing in the northern part of the reservoir.

The State Police Air Wing spotted the plane, which landed upright and on its wheels.

A State Police boat was launched from the barracks in Belchertown, and troopers were on the way to the site of the landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration was notified about the incident and authorities are still trying to determine how they will move the plane from the reservoir

State police said there was no damage to the water supply. 

According to Google Maps, the spot where the plane landed is normally underwater. However, water levels are lower due to ongoing drought conditions.

Story and video:  http://wpri.com





A small private plane experienced engine problems and had to make an emergency landing on a sandbar in the Quabbin Reservoir Tuesday afternoon, State Police said.

The sandbar is in the northern portion of the reservoir that is part of New Salem.

The man operating the plane told State Police that he was having engine problems and had to make an emergency landing at about 2:52 p.m. just northwest of Mount L, according to Dave Procopio, a spokesman for State Police.

Procopio said the man was the only occupant of the plane and did not suffer any injuries. Troopers were working on getting him to shore at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The plane landed upright on its wheels and did not crash, Procopio said. The only damage to the plane is associated with the engine problems.

Procopio said the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and they will have to decide whether the plane can be repaired to fly away or will have to be removed by a different method.

State Police troopers were still on scene Tuesday afternoon.


Source:   https://www.bostonglobe.com




NEW SALEM, Mass. —A plane makes an emergency landing Tuesday afternoon on a sandbar in the Quabbin Reservoir, state police said.

State police said the plane did not crash and is still intact.

The pilot, who was not injured, reported engine problems prior to landing on the sandbar.

A Massachusetts State Police boat and troopers were reported to be heading to the plane to assist the pilot.

No other information was released.

Checking Google Maps images, it appears that the area where the plane landed has been underwater in the past. MWRA could not immediately say if that area was previously underwater, but they estimate the reservoir is at 86 percent of capacity and add that his is a very sandy area.

Source:   http://www.wcvb.com