Takeoff Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Golf Hotel Whiskey

Deer strikes a Cirrus during take-off

We have all heard of stories about aircraft involving bird strikes but here is an odd story that was recently noted on General Aviation News about a Cirrus SR20 striking a deer during takeoff in Greenville, Michigan. According to the August 2008 accident report provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot was:

…attempting a touch and go landing at night. Just as he was rotating, he saw a deer run across the runway and heard a loud bang and the airplane veered slightly to the left. The pilot thought he had hit a deer, but he continued the takeoff as he did not have enough runway left to stop. Once airborne, the pilot was able to see the damage on the left wing. He stated he maintained an additional 10 knots of airspeed and returned to land. The airplane handled well until short final when the left wing dropped and hit the runway first. The pilot was able to bring the airplane to a stop.

However, and while there were no injuries on board the aircraft, damage to the aircraft (and no doubt to the deer as well) was substantial. Hence, and the next time you are taking off or landing near a wooded area, be sure to watch out for deer on the runway!

Four tips for better takeoffs

Chris Findley, a flight instructor in the Nashville area and the founder of myFlightCoach.com, has written an interesting post on the Let’s Go Flying blog containing four tips for better takeoffs. Chris began by writing that takeoffs are often neglected as a maneuver and are often treated simply as a mechanical action without much thought (unless of course there is a crosswind). He then added that takeoffs have become very “Cro-Magnon” as in “Come plane. Now we fly, ugh ugh…” rather than the gentle finesse associated with landings.

However, Chris then gave the following four tips (along with plenty of further details for each tip) as to how you can improve your takeoffs:

1.) Mentally begin the takeoff prior to moving onto the runway and be aware of the takeoff environment.
2.) Line up on the centerline, insure the nose wheel is straight and the ailerons properly deflected to account for the wind. Apply full power steadily and smoothly.
3.) Easy on the rudder/nosewheel.
4.) Use control deflection to help the airplane do what it wants to do.

Chris concluded his post by reiterating that takeoffs should not be overlooked and as a maneuver as they require practice in order to be done both smoothly and well. He also included a link to the following video about takeoffs shot in a Cessna 172 that is well worth watching.

The 10 most important pre-flight checks

Checklist are a staple feature in aviation and the most important and longest checklist of them all is the preflight checklists. Hence, a recent post by Vincent on his Plastic Pilot blog is well worth reading as he outlined the top 10 most important pre-flight checks that you want to be sure not to miss. These pre-flight checks are:

Ignition off – you don’t want the engine to start while you inspect the aircraft. This could cost you a hand, or more
Oil level – you don’t want to come back because of an high oil temperature or high oil pressure indication. Even if you do, you can’t add oil in a warm engine
Cowlings free of birds nests – you don’t want a nest on fire under your engine’s cowling
Prop free of cracks – you don’t want to loose a blade and have an unbalanced prop make your engine fly away
No droppings – you don’t want an aircraft that can’t break, looses oil or fuel
Tires – you don’t want a tire to explode on landing and loose control of your aircraft
Ailerons free and opposite – you don’t want an uncontrollable aircraft, and as you really don’t want it you’ll check that during the pre-take-off check as well
Fuel caps – you paid enough for your fuel, you don’t want it sucked out of the tanks
Pitot / Static free – you don’t want a blocked altimeter or an airspeed indicator acting as an altimeter
Baggage doors latched – you don’t want to have to land back because of an unlatched baggage door, nor do you want to loose it in flight

Vincent noted that no matter what type of aircraft you are flying, the above checks will always be key. He also pointed out that for almost all aircraft types, the checklist is organized as a gigantic flow pattern – another interesting aspect about checklists which he blogged about last year.

Remembering to ask: What If?

For Airspeed’s first guest post, Steve Tupper invited Ron Klutts to write a great essay composed of his thoughts concerning the February 17th crash of a Cessna 310 near his home. Ron knew the pilot, a commercial rated CFI, and what was supposed to be an hour and fifty minute flight only lasted a minute.

Hence, Ron begins his essay by saying that takeoffs are always a surprise. The reason? Simply put, take-offs are optional but landings are clearly not optional. Ron also admits that doing passenger pre-start safety briefings and departure briefings has always felt awkward along with talking to himself when doing various callouts during the take-off roll. However, he has still continued to perform these tasks.

Ron then mentions the importance of setting some personal minimums and then sticking to them. In addition, he points out that part of preparedness is to plan for the time when things do go wrong. In other words:

What are the action items for an electrical system failure?
What if the vacuum system failed?
What if an engine failed?
What if my engine fails at 200’? At 500’? At 1000’?
What if any of these occur in IMC?
Each altitude has different action plans and alternatives. Are we ready for each?
Have YOU asked WHAT IF? What if?….. What if?….

Ron then writes that he hopes that he will be surprised at his next take-off. Why? Because he would like to think that he has practiced the right “what if” for a given situation as that is what safe pilots do. Hence and at the end of his essay, Ron puts forward the question: “Are YOU thinking WHAT IF?” Definitely something to think about the next time you choose the option of taking off into the sky.

VFR departure briefing simulator video

John Fiscus, the Chief Pilot of The Flight Academy, has recently posted a video on to the Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association (COPA) website where he demonstrates a VFR departure briefing and then a departure which utilizes some of that briefing. In his post, John made an interesting point that:

Many people I train with aren’t as ready as they ought to be for anything beyond the norm to happen in those first few seconds of flight. Performing a VFR departure briefing is a good way to prepare for the unexpected… and ensure the appropriate (and timely) reaction!

He also noted that:

A VFR departure briefing is going to be difficult for most established pilots to start performing. I have heard the excuses, but they really boil down to, "I have been flying this long and it works fine. I know what to do if something happens, I can handle this."

However, John then mentioned that when he see pilots doing simulator training, many aren’t all that prepared to make a tough call fast. Furthermore, he noted that many experienced Cirrus pilots don’t pull the CAPS handle soon enough – especially when a low altitude engine failure is simulated and time is short.

The video is less than six minutes long and hence is worth watching.

Engine failure and incipient spin video

We have recently posted a couple of posts concerning what to do or not to do should you experience an engine failure right after take-off. However, Blake, the blogger behind the Fly With Blake blog, has just posted a video showing a textbook example of what can and will likely go wrong if you attempt to return to the airport at to low of an altitude after an engine failure immediately after take-off.

Unfortunately, the pilot and his acrobatic partner were both killed in the crash and we should warn you, the video is graphic.