Flight Safety Detectives

Merion Air Disaster Revisited

Episode 38

When a Piper Aerostar collided in mid-air with a Bell 412 helicopter over an elementary school in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, in 1991 Greg Feith was among the first investigators on the scene. Greg and John revisit the investigation to highlight NTSB findings that are relevant for pilots today.

The accident started the NTSB discussion and definition of aeronautical decision making. ADM is an important component of safe flying, in the cockpit and the hangar.

In the 1991 accident, five people in both aircraft were killed, including United States Senator John Heinz. Two school children on the ground were also killed by falling debris. More people on the ground were injured.

Greg describes the heartbreaking scene as well as the challenges of recovering evidence from a large debris field. Calling this a tragic event resulting from a “series of simple errors,” Greg talks about the role of crew experience, pilot communication and other notable factors.

Image from the NTSB accident report.

Episode Photo: Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - N104RM 1980 Piper AEROSTAR 601P C/N 61P07568063375, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58210408

Minute-by-Minute Examination of ValuJet Flight 592’s Electronic Witness

Episode 37

The cockpit voice recorder is called the “electronic witness” by crash investigators. In this episode, John and Greg walk through the CVR recovered during the investigation of ValuJet Flight 592 that crashed in the Everglades.

The CVR captures conversations. It also documents ambient noises that offer clues, especially when aligned with information from the flight data recorder.

Greg and John offer insight into what was learned from the CVR. Routine discussions quickly changed with the call of “fire” at 14:10. The recording shows rapid-fire issues unfolding. It chillingly shows that all on board seem to have succumbed to smoke asphyxiation before the plane crashed.

This second-by-second analysis expands on Episode 30 addressing listener questions and interest in detailed CVR analysis.

Photo: NTSB photo of recovered Flight Safety Recorder

The Right Stuff: What It Takes to Be a Great Pilot

Episode 36

A panel discussion from the campus of Vaughn College explores many aspects of a successful career in aviation. From formal education to soft skills, Greg, John and their guests explore the factors that lead to success.

Students discuss their plans and the options they are exploring to start their careers. Also featured are professor Capt. Emerson Allen, experienced pilot Capt. Chinar Shaw, and management department chair Dr. Maxine Lubner.

Highlights:

• Training options and career paths
• The role of women in all aspects of aviation
• Importance of communication and management skills
• Passion as a key trait

Listen as panel members share their first-hand experiences and field questions from students.

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is a private college in East Elmhurst, New York, specialized in aviation and engineering education. John serves as an instructor in the management program. This episode was recorded prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in the US.

Flying Safely Is an Obligation Not to Take Casually

Episode 35

The Cessna P210N crash near Detroit, Michigan gets a close look in this episode. The National Transportation Safety Board recently released the accident final report and Greg and John layer on their analysis of the facts.

On June 24, 2018 the accident led to the death of the pilot and his wife and serious injury to a 17-year-old son. While the NTSB report largely attributes the crash to lack of fuel, John and Greg raise serious questions about that conclusion, the pilot’s qualifications and the airworthiness of the plane.

They explore:

• The obligation of pilots to make sure they have the necessary training and that their aircraft are safe to fly
• The grey areas of what mechanics can do when an issue is found and an owner does not authorize repair
• Post-accident clues that are not pursued

Listen as John and Greg dissect the tragic event from takeoff through the investigation process. Questions remain that unfortunately will not be answered now that the final report has been issued.

Time to Apply PRIA Standards Inside the Hangar

Episode 34

 

Air safety does not begin and end with pilots. It is impacted by everyone who has a role with a plane, including maintenance personnel. Flight Safety Detectives Greg Feith and John Goglia call for higher standards to be applied to all personnel whose jobs impact aviation safety.

 

The Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996 (PRIA) requires that air carriers evaluate information about each pilot’s training, experience, qualification, and safety background. It is long past due that the same standard be applied to the people working in other roles on aircraft.

 

John and Greg look at the story behind the recent FAA announcement to check the engines of 737 jets idled by the pandemic. Far from an airframe issue, this illustrates the complex maintenance issues that are created when aircraft are stored. As discussed in previous episodes, all planes – from general aviation to airliners – should get an extensive check before they are returned to service.

 

They also revisit the crash of Air Midwest Flight 5481 in North Carolina. That crash was traced to an inexperienced mechanic as well as improper bag loading. Two issues outside of the cockpit made the job inside the cockpit impossible to perform.

 

Listen to this lively discussion that draws on years of experience to come to the call to tighten PRIA standards and apply them more broadly.

The Discipline Needed for Aviation Safety

Episode 33

 

Flight Safety Detectives listeners ask for insider details and John and Greg deliver! A theme in this wide-ranging discussion of questions received is the importance of discipline.

 

A listener asked for the backstory in the NTSB investigation of Eastern Airlines Flight 980. Greg shares the details of the Jan. 1, 1985 crash and the 10 months of effort that led to him climbing a mountain in search of the cockpit and flight data recorders. That crash, in part, was caused by the air check pilot not following procedures.

 

Another question related to 2011 crash of a Cessna 421. That accident illustrated the insidiously damaging effects of lightning strikes. John and Greg discuss errors in the NTSB accident report. A lack of a disciplined look into the engine damage missed the true cause.

 

The discussion discipline in all areas of aviation then turns to a series of accidents involving Mooney aircraft. Greg has again and again found fuel tank drain holes mistakenly plugged by sealant during repairs of other issues. This lack of care in maintenance leads to water in the fuel and disastrous results.

 

John and Greg conclude that it is the little things that matter, and a high level of discipline is needed to catch them.

Mask Over the Mask? More COVID Airline Challenges Surface

Episode 32

Instructions on how to use the oxygen mask is a mainstay of the airline safety briefing. With passengers now required to wear masks, does the mask go over the mask?

 

The tried and true safety briefing needs to be revamped in light of COVID-19 prevention measures.

 

Greg Feith and John Goglia look at standard safety protocols that are disrupted by COVID-19 precautions. They talk about what it will mean for airlines to keep passengers safe.

 

What about airflow in cabins? United has announced changes that increase air intake during boarding and deplaning. The importance of onboard hepafilters has also taken on new priority.

 

They also talk about the 25^th anniversary of the Air France Concorde crash. That tragic event resulted in safety lessons and forever changed supersonic flight.

Time for Manufacturers to Put Safety Over Profits

Episode 31

Greg and John are torqued! Too many accidents, too much pilot error and too little attention to safety lessons learned.

Greg and John are not happy with the state of the industry and propose that manufacturers step in to make sure aircraft don’t wind up in the hands of airlines and pilots not equipped to operate safely. It is time to put safety over profits.

This episode covers recent accidents, including a plane piloted by a former baseball player, a mid-air crash over Lake Croeur, and a Pakistan International Airlines crash. All, they argue, can be directly attributed to pilot error.

General and commercial aviation will not be the same after COVID-19. Greg and John say this is a perfect time to change up approaches to safety.

They’d like to see more incentives for pilots to actively maintain their training and safety skills. They call on manufacturers to collaborate to create standards that customers must meet in order to qualify to purchase aircraft.

Listen as they explore ideas to reinvent the industry to incentivize safety.

Photo: Shadman Samee from Dhaka, Bangladesh / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

Backstories from ValuJet Flight 592 Crash Investigation

Episode 30

Greg Feith takes us inside his experience as the NTSB investigator in charge (IIC) of the ValuJet Flight 592 investigation. John Goglia was also involved. Together they talk through the launch of that investigation and share many behind-the-scenes experiences.

• Creative procurement of resources needed
• A rental car that rolled into the water
• 3 am recovery of a wreckage “souvenir” at the home of a worker
• The special smell in the hangar where the wreckage was reconstructed

These memories are overlaid with recollections of the high stress, emotion and expectations of the seven plus months of investigation. The teamwork onsite created many lasting connections and relationships.

The Cost of Flight Safety

Episode 29

Flight Safety Detectives Greg Feith and John Goglia look at the many costs associated with flight safety. Costs include dollars and lives.

July is proving to be a deadly month in the skies. In the first 7 days there were 7 fatal accidents, several with multiple fatalities. As investigations begin, John and Greg look at common potential factors like weather, mechanical issues, fuel supply and more.

They shed light on a new factor – COVID-19. Many pilots have been grounded during the pandemic. Pilots need to “get back in the books” to maintain flight skills. They need to recommit to the checklists that are designed to ensure safe operations.

John and Greg discuss how airlines and pilots often avoid acting on airworthiness directives (ADs) and service bulletins because of the time and cost involved. They share many illustrations of the larger costs of crashes and loss of lives.