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Episode 60 – Expert Look at the United Airlines Engine Failure

March 10, 2021 in /by

John and Greg are giving meticulous attention to information available on the recent United Airlines engine explosion. In this episode, they share their initial expert observations and predict what’s next.

Learn what the evidence so far really shows from two of the world’s most experienced accident investigators.

They explain why the crew and air traffic control personnel who handled the flight were “the ideal scenario for handling the situation.” The outcome could have been far worse.

John shares his extensive knowledge of Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines. He walks listeners through the critical components. The forces the fan blades need to endure are explained. John offers an expert look at the engine components and maintenance procedures.

What’s next? John and Greg talk about the implications of mandated inspections. They also have some predictions for potential actions such as declaring blades in service for a certain period of time at end of life.

Episode 58 – Piper Safety Issues, Kobe Bryant Crash, Indonesia 737-500 Crash

February 24, 2021 in /by

John and Greg catch listeners up with some major aviation news. Findings are being shared from the Kobe Bryant crash investigation. The 737-500 crash in Indonesia may be the result of a known issue. Piper single engine aircraft now have an airworthiness directive to be addressed along with two service bulletins.

Kobe Bryant Crash

The NTSB Sunshine Hearing about the 2020 Calabasas helicopter crash
covered expected findings related to weather, spatial awareness and preflight planning. Missing was mention of situational awareness and weather avoidance.

Indonesia Sriwijaya Air Crash

The throttle is the focus of the investigation into the January crash of a 737-500. The plane maintenance history does not make clear if a 2001 Airworthiness Directive related to throttle and thrust issues had been completed.

Piper Aircraft Wing Issues

Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants and former FAA inspector, returns for continued discussion of the service bulletins and airworthiness directive related to Piper single engine aircraft. The different safety issues addressed in SB 1224C, SB 1304A and AD 2020-26-16 are covered.

Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!

Episode 57 – The FAA and Building a Safety Culture

February 17, 2021 in /by

The FAA’s role in flight safety has evolved over the years. This episode covers the Safety Management System (SMS), the potential expansion into charter aviation, and the value of building a safety culture in all types of aviation. Aspects of FAA operations – past, present and future – are discussed.

The episode continues a conversation with John Allen, Manager at Allen and Associates Consulting, LLC. His expertise includes the military, airline industry and FAA.

Allen reflects on his time at JetBlue and the focused effort to implement SMS there. The culture changes brought with that process made it a better organization for safety, operational discipline, and risk management.

“Just culture,” a concept that emphasizes that mistakes are not solely brought about by the person or persons directly involved, also gets a look. In a just culture, after an incident, the question asked is, “What went wrong?” rather than “Who caused the problem?” A just culture is the opposite of a blame culture, which has been especially prevalent in aircraft maintenance operations.

Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!

Photo: Matthew G. Bisanz

Episode 56 – FAA Struggles Following 737 Max Issues

February 10, 2021 in /by

The FAA has taken a hit following high-profile crashes of the 737 Max. Investigators and congressional hearings have laid the blame on the FAA aircraft certification process and its too-close relationship with Boeing. Will the agency be able to restore its reputation?

Guest is John Allen, Manager at Allen and Associates Consulting, LLC. His resume includes service in the US military as well as leadership roles at the FAA and JetBlue.

The discussion takes a candid look at the issues. They also explore the FAA’s leadership in many areas of aviation safety.

This episode offers an insider look at the internal workings of the FAA as well as the challenges of balancing safety and economics. They also explain the role of regulatory authorities around the globe.

Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!

Episode 55 – Complacency Hitting Aviation Safety from NTSB to the Cockpit

February 3, 2021 in /by

Is complacency seeping into all areas of aviation safety? From pilots doing casual preflights to the NTSB’s continued refusal to do on-site investigations for most aviation accidents, John and Greg have safety concerns at all levels.

The safety culture of aviation is stagnating. The findings of the Rand Report – written more than 20 years ago – have not been implemented. It outlines issues with the NTSB organizational culture that persist today. The result is a decrease in the board’s role as stated in the report: “The NTSB must be an open and impartial agent pursuing the cause of aviation.”

It is a tragedy that the NTSB is not going to the scene of general aviation accidents to collect information. Safety insights are being lost as investigators resort to superficial probable cause statements.

This episode also looks at issues caused by COVID-19 disruptions, from the complexities of bringing planes back to service to people losing skills from inactivity. Was COVID a factor in the recent 737 crash in Indonesia?

Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!

 

Episode 54 – Light Sport Aircraft Safety

January 27, 2021 in /by

Light Sport Aircraft are the focus of this discussion. Changes to FAA rules and regulations now under review could result in a major loosening of safety rules for affected planes.

The FAA is proposing to change the rules and regulations related to LSAs, allowing aircraft in the category to be larger and more complex. John, Greg and expert Jason Lukasik explore implications for flight safety.

While every maintenance bulletin must be followed on LSAs, the use of consensus standards can make the work more challenging.

Listener questions are answered related to the Piper PA28 Airworthiness Directive (Episode 50) and propeller safety (Episode 46). The discussion also covers recent general aviation accidents with fatalities.

Image credit: B H Conway, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Episode 53 – Crash Illustrates Shortcomings of NTSB General Aviation Accident Investigations

January 20, 2021 in /by

The NTSB investigation of the tragic 2006 crash of a single-engine Cessna 206 was attributed to pilot error. Although evidence has surfaced that questions that conclusion, the findings have not been changed and appeals have been denied.

Guests for this episode are Yatish Joshi, pilot Georgina Joshi’s father and an experienced pilot, and his wife Joan. They tell the story of their journey to find the truth.

The lack of NTSB resources devoted to general aviation accidents is a disturbing safety trend illustrated by this crash. Pilot error is the attributed cause in more than 85% of cases, potentially missing the true lessons that can be learned from thorough accident investigation.

Invisible Sky is a documentary created about this accident. John and Greg believe the film is important for everyone in the GA community to see, as well as anyone who is interested in aviation safety.

Episode 52 – All You Need to Know About Whole Aircraft Rescue Parachute Systems

January 13, 2021 in /by

More than 430 lives have been saved by the BRS Whole Aircraft Rescue Parachute System. John and Greg get all the details about the system from BRS Managing Director and President Enrique Dillon.

<a href=”https://brsaerospace.com/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>BRS</a> invented the Whole Aircraft Rescue Parachute System in 1980. Since then, the system has been installed on more than 35,000 aircraft. It is a safety option that can be installed on virtually any general aviation plane.

The discussion covers details of proper installation and maintenance. They offer tips for pilots to make this safety system part of safe operations.

Listen for other aviation news and Greg and John’s take on the best leadership for the FAA.

Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by <a href=”https://www.avemco.com/products?partner=WGOG&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WNDxlp3VsAXYNEKj6IvVuFqFw9zWOzmTD8C6dfzsVKKP-KxdBkntKSYRoCCbMQAvD_BwE” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Avemco Insurance</a>. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!
<h2>See the BRS in Action</h2>

 

 

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