SAFETY GRAM
June 2013
“Truly superior pilots are those who use their superior judgment to avoid those situations where
they might have to use their superior skills.” - Anonymous
…But sometimes things happen. When we have issues in flight, it often requires both superior
judgment and superior skill to fully resolve the situation. Both of those are required even after
landing. Keep flying the aircraft with superior judgment and superior skill until it’s tied down!
The attached “Flight Safety Lessons Learned” details an aero club aircraft that experienced an
electrical system failure in the local pattern at night. The pilot used skill to land the aircraft, but
could have used better judgment about how they taxied to parking (across an active runway
without tower clearance). It merits reading and discussion at your safety meeting this month.
“What’s the opposite of hindsight? Forethought. Before you fly, think of what can go wrong and
consider options.” Please take a few moments to discuss this scenario with an instructor.
Blue skies and fair winds!
FLY SAFELY!
Flight Safety Lessons Learned
Electrical Loss at Night - What Would You Do?
The Problem - Communicating with ATC in the dark without a radio.
The Scenario - The event pilot was conducting solo night landings at the local controlled airport. On
downwind, abeam the landing threshold, he noticed the aircraft lights beginning to dim and realized he
was losing electrical power. With no electrical power, no lights, and no means of communicating with
tower, the pilot cleared for other traffic and made a safe landing. Once safely on the runway, habit
patterns took over and the pilot exited to the left toward the familiar surroundings of the aero club
which was located over a mile away from the runway exit point. Concerned that he couldn’t be seen by
other aircraft on the airfield, the pilot expeditiously proceeded to parking, crossing an active runway on
the way, without visibility from tower or taxi clearance.
The Options 1. Find another means of tower communication. This scenario is a great argument for carrying a cell
phone. When clear of the runway and other traffic, turn on the phone and call tower for further
instruction. A portable transceiver does just as well and lets other airfield traffic know what’s going on.
That way, tower can keep other traffic away and send a Follow-Me to get you to safety.
- A cell phone was available in this instance, but was not thought of as an operational tool.
2. Carry a flashlight at night, not just to do the walk-around, but also as a communication device should
you lose power. In this case, our pilot had a small red-lens flashlight that couldn’t be seen from tower,
eliminating this option.
3. If you do not have a cell phone, flashlight, or any means of communicating with Tower, be patient
and wait for further Tower instructions via light gun signals. If no light signals are given, they are still
searching for your location and airport operations will be looking for you as well.
4. If you can’t communicate with tower, find the shortest route to safety, clear like crazy, get to a ramp
location out of the way of other traffic, and shut down. Then find a way to call tower to discuss options.
- If the pilot had exited the runway to the right, he would have faced an area of the airfield with
which he was unfamiliar but would not have needed to cross active runways.
The Lessons Learned 1. Don’t rush yourself to unwarranted action. Look for the safest route, not just the one with which
you’re familiar. An extra second or two of consideration can keep an uncomfortable situation from
becoming a tragic one.
2. Get a bigger, brighter flashlight with removable colored lens for night ops. Carry a cell phone or
portable transceiver to use when all other communication capabilities fail.
3. Perceived danger can drive decisions we wouldn’t make in hindsight. What’s the opposite of
hindsight? Forethought. Before you fly, think of what can go wrong and consider options. Then, the
situation won’t seem so difficult if/when it finds us in the dark.
4. Hangar flying today can help us make the right call tomorrow.
Think about it…before you fly.