Transcript SAFE FLOAT FLYING - Transport Canada

SAFE FLOAT FLYING
Plan your Way Out Before You
Plan Your Way In!
As opposed To:
UNSAFE FLOAT FLYING
MOST COMMON OCCURENCES
BY PHASE OF FLIGHT (T/O CRUISE)
34 %
 Loss
of Control
 Engine failure
 Fuel (mismanagement)
(contamination)
 Stalls
 Collision
with
submerged
obstacles
 Improper
load
c of g out / overloaded
external loads
*-poor selection of t/o &
landing areas (too short)
-
MOST COMMON OCCURENCES
BY PHASE OF FLIGHT (ENROUTE)
23%

C. F. I. T.
-Controlled flight
into terrain
-collisions with
obstructions towers
etc.

Situational
-awareness:
Loss of
– usually caused by
deteriorating wx
– insufficient wx brfg.
– Unfamiliar with
local geography
MOST COMMON OCCURENCES
BY PHASE (LANDGS &APPRCH)
34%
Stalls
 Dragged wing
tips (cartwheel)
 Nose over
 Hard landings
 Wheels down
on landing

 Landing
& t/o
areas too short
rough wind &
water cond.’s
 Glassy water
 improper landing
attitude
HARD LANDINGS
Amphibian Landing
COMMON OCCURENCES
TAXIING PRE-FLT & POST FLT
15%
 Collision
with
submerged
obstacles
 Loss of control
while taxiing
 Manouvering
area not checked
 Rough
water
strong cross
winds
CHECK YOUR MANOUVERING AREA
ENSURE THAT TAKE OFF &
DEPARTURE PATHS ARE FREE
FROM OBSTRUCTIONS
PLAN YOUR WAY OUT BEFORE
YOUR WAY IN!!!
 About 50% of the accidents reviewed could
have been prevented if the manouvering
area had been checked prior to TO or
landing

Two Separate Issues
Issues – how to fly to avoid
the problems
 Human Factors Issues – how to avoid
the situations
 Technical
Technical Issues
 What
are the most common mistakes
that you see?
 What advice do you want to give your
fellow float plane pilots?
FUEL MANAGEMENT
 Filter
all fuel from remote locations
 Sample before adding to aircraft
 Perform enroute fuel calculations.
 “Pre-” flight plan your trip, don’t plan
as you go
(winds, wx, fuel
availability & grade.)
AIRCRAFT LOADING
 Confirm
within c of g and structural limits
(mtow)
 If carrying external loads ensure that they
are attached as per manual or manual
ammendment ( boat racks)
 If you believe that you may be heavy;
carry extra airspeed
reduce angle of bank in turns
BE WEATHER WISE
 Don’t
push weather
 Familiarize yourself with significant
towers and high terrain along route.
 Avoid flying in wx below 1000 feet
 Watch your attitude
C.F.I.T
CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN
 Concentrate
on flying the aircraft
when in marginal wx. Or when in high
traffic areas.
 Keep communications brief & to the
point. Eliminate all unnecessary
conversation.
 Be & stay aware of your situation, and
surrounding geography
GLASSY WATER
Don’t land in middle of lake
 If shoreline is free from submerged hazards;
Land close to it.
 Avoid max t.o.w.’s for glassy water
departures
 Allow extra room for glassy water landing
 Use “power-on” landing technique
 Allow for extra room in high temperatures

TAXIING & MANOUVERING
Sail or sail taxi in strong or gusty wind
conditions
 Avoid having to taxi downwind in strong
winds
 Use shorelines & other natural
“windbreaks” to turn aircraft.
 Be “current concious”
 Clients & pax should be advised that they
may have to move to where they can be
picked up

Human Factors Issues

Why do people put themselves into the
situations described?
– High winds
– Large waves
– Over-gross

Why do people land without checking for
submerged objects?
Situations and Behaviour

People react to situations in fairly
predictable ways
– Good Samaritan Study
– Electric Shock Study

Our personality is a factor in the kind of
situation we put ourselves into
Error Producing Situations
When you put yourself into stressful,
fatiguing situations, you will react
instinctively not rationally.
 When you stop thinking in terms of hazards,
and how to minimize risk, you will become
complacent.
 When you stop looking for information in a
systematic, active manner, you will miss
things.

Case Study
Background Information

Pilot
– Private pilot
– Licensed since 1966
– Multi rating, Night
rating
– Previous accident in
1983

Aircraft
– Cessna 180H on EDO
floats
– Max weight 2820
– Load =4 adult males,
30 imp. Gals. Mogas,
outboard motor, fishing
gear, tools, jerry can of
fuel, collapsible boat
lashed to the floats
– Requires 3000 feet for
TO and climb over 50’
obstacle
Background Information

Operation
–
–
–
–
Day of fishing
Pax. were relatives
Pilot familiar with lake
Never operated into lake
with more than 3 POB
– Longest straight run is
about 7000’
– Departed Little Shuswap
early AM, attempted
departure from Tobe Lake
at 2 PM

Weather
– Clear, sunny, 25ºC
– 29.84”
– Lake elevation 3900’,
density alt. 6100’
– wind from the east at 5
to 10 knots