LOSING CONTROL of a Perfectly Good Airplane Janeen Kochan.

LOSING CONTROLLOSING CONTROLof aof a

Perfectly Good AirplanePerfectly Good AirplaneJaneen Kochan

Loss of ControlLoss of Control Why the topic?Why the topic?

The perfectly good The perfectly good airplane partairplane part

Who loses control?Who loses control? Why Why do pilots lose do pilots lose

control?control? What is being doneWhat is being done What can be done?What can be done? Why not you?Why not you?

Why the Topic?Why the Topic?

Who Loses Control?Who Loses Control?(Commercial Jet Airplanes(Commercial Jet Airplanes

Worldwide1994-2003)Worldwide1994-2003)

Airline Fatalities 1994-2003

38%

31%8%

6%

4%

4%

2%

4%

2%

1%Loss-of-Control

CFIT

Mid-Air

In-Flight Fire

Fuel Tank Explosion

Structure

Takeoff Configuration

Landing

Runway Incursion

Windshear

Who Loses Control?Who Loses Control?(General Aviation Accidents, 2000 - NTSB)(General Aviation Accidents, 2000 - NTSB)

RankRank OccurrenceOccurrence # # AccidentsAccidents

11 Loss of Control In-FlightLoss of Control In-Flight 17517522 In-Flight Collision with TerrainIn-Flight Collision with Terrain 88 8833 In-Flight Collision with ObjectIn-Flight Collision with Object 85 8544 Hard LandingHard Landing 52 5255 Loss of Control on Ground/WaterLoss of Control on Ground/Water 47 47

(Collision with Object)(Collision with Object)66 Loss of Control on Ground/WaterLoss of Control on Ground/Water 46 46

(Encounter with Terrain/Water)(Encounter with Terrain/Water)99 Loss of Control on Ground/WaterLoss of Control on Ground/Water 39 391010 Loss of Control on Ground/WaterLoss of Control on Ground/Water 29 29

(nose over)(nose over)

Human Factors IssuesHuman Factors Issues(General Aviation 2000 – NTSB)(General Aviation 2000 – NTSB)

AllAll FatalFatal

Human FactorsHuman Factors Issues Issues 1488 1488 278278Aircraft Handling/ControlAircraft Handling/Control 963963 204204

Planning/DecisionPlanning/Decision 604604 204204

Use of Aircraft EquipmentUse of Aircraft Equipment 180180 12 12

MaintenanceMaintenance 88 88 14 14

CommunicationsCommunications 73 73 15 15

Meteorological ServiceMeteorological Service 12 12 7 7

AirportAirport 3 3 1 1

Who Loses Control?Who Loses Control?

Passenger Interference

Carry-on Baggage

Child Restraint

Passenger Seat Belt Use

FAA Safer Skies Initiative

General Aviation Cabin Safety

Aeronautical Decision Making

Weather

Controlled Flight Into Terrain

Survivability

Runway Incursions

Loss of Control

Controlled Flight Into Terrain

Uncontained Engine Failures

Runway Incursions

Approach and Landing

Weather

Loss of Control

Turbulence

Commercial Aviation

Who Loses Control?Who Loses Control?

Who Loses Control?Who Loses Control?

Who Loses Control?Who Loses Control?

What Can Happen?What Can Happen?

Why Pilots Lose ControlWhy Pilots Lose ControlUnexpected Events and SurpriseUnexpected Events and Surprise

Surprise due to unexpected eventSurprise due to unexpected event Nature of surpriseNature of surprise

InsidiousInsidious SubtleSubtle Cues most often availableCues most often available Not necessarily highly unusual or novelNot necessarily highly unusual or novel

The process of surpriseThe process of surprise

Why Pilots Lose ControlWhy Pilots Lose ControlUnexpected Events and SurpriseUnexpected Events and Surprise

Expectations inconsistent with ongoing Expectations inconsistent with ongoing situationsituation Lack of cues and/or improper interpretation of Lack of cues and/or improper interpretation of

cuescues Erroneous probability estimationsErroneous probability estimations

Decision making becomes impaired and/or Decision making becomes impaired and/or delayeddelayed

Focus on event leads to an interruption of Focus on event leads to an interruption of ongoing activitiesongoing activities

Interruption of ongoing activities can lead Interruption of ongoing activities can lead to…to…

Why Pilots Lose ControlWhy Pilots Lose ControlAircraft UpsetsAircraft Upsets

Unintentional:Unintentional: Aircraft pitch greater Aircraft pitch greater

than 25than 25oo nose up nose up Aircraft pitch greater Aircraft pitch greater

than 10than 10oo nose down nose down Aircraft bank angle Aircraft bank angle

greater than 45greater than 45oo

Airspeeds inappropriate Airspeeds inappropriate for the conditions of for the conditions of flightflight

To include:To include:Any other aircraft state that Any other aircraft state that is not intended by the pilotis not intended by the pilot

What is Being Done What is Being Done Formal Requirements - Formal Requirements - Practical Test StandardsPractical Test Standards

Recovery from unusual flight Recovery from unusual flight attitudes attitudes Exhibits knowledge of the elements related Exhibits knowledge of the elements related

to attitude instrument flying during unusual to attitude instrument flying during unusual attitudesattitudes

Recognizes unusual flight attitudes solely Recognizes unusual flight attitudes solely by reference to instruments; recovers by reference to instruments; recovers promptly to a stabilized level flight attitudepromptly to a stabilized level flight attitude

Using proper instrument cross-check and Using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation and smooth, coordinated interpretation and smooth, coordinated control application in the correct sequencecontrol application in the correct sequence

What is Being DoneWhat is Being DoneFormal RecommendationsFormal Recommendations

FITS (FAA/Industry Training FITS (FAA/Industry Training Standard) – for technically Standard) – for technically advanced piston or light jet advanced piston or light jet aircraftaircraft

NBAA Training Guidelines NBAA Training Guidelines for Single Pilot Operations for Single Pilot Operations of Very Light Jets and of Very Light Jets and Technically Advanced Technically Advanced AircraftAircraft

Industry Airplane Upset Industry Airplane Upset Training Aid, Rev. 1 – Training Aid, Rev. 1 – training curriculum for air training curriculum for air carrier operationscarrier operations

What Can Be Done?What Can Be Done? AwarenessAwareness TrainingTraining

AcademicsAcademics In-FlightIn-FlightSimulatorSimulator

Practice to maintain basic Practice to maintain basic flying skillsflying skills

Advanced airmanship Advanced airmanship attitudeattitude ‘‘Aeronautical sportsmanship’ Aeronautical sportsmanship’

David Robson – “Skydancing; David Robson – “Skydancing; Aerobatic Flight Techniques”Aerobatic Flight Techniques”

CharacteristicsCharacteristics SpiralsSpirals StallsStalls SpinsSpinsAngle of AttackAngle of Attack

AirspeedAirspeed

AltimeterAltimeter

G-LoadG-Load

Below CriticalBelow Critical

IncreasingIncreasing

UnwindingUnwinding

IncreasingIncreasing

Above CriticalAbove Critical

Low & ConstantLow & Constant

UnwindingUnwinding

Essentially +1.0gEssentially +1.0g

Above CriticalAbove Critical

Low & ConstantLow & Constant

UnwindingUnwinding

Essentially +1.0gEssentially +1.0g

Primary causePrimary cause

Primary remedyPrimary remedy

Recovery ActionsRecovery Actions

Excessive BankExcessive Bank

AileronsAilerons

Power-Push-RollPower-Push-Roll

Excessive AOAExcessive AOA

ElevatorElevator

Elevator ForwardElevator Forward

Yaw & Roll Yaw & Roll CoupledCoupled

RudderRudder

ParePare

Maneuver

AcademicsAcademicsRich Stowell Emergency Maneuver TrainingRich Stowell Emergency Maneuver Training

Unusual Attitude Recovery Training

Foundation Flyers, Inc.

Lowell Hinchee

In-Flight Training

What Can Be Done?What Can Be Done?Calspan’s Upset Recovery Training ProgramCalspan’s Upset Recovery Training Program

Classroom Classroom instructioninstructionCauses of upsetsCauses of upsetsAerodynamicsAerodynamicsRecovery Recovery

techniquestechniques Flight trainingFlight training

Aerobatic BonanzaAerobatic BonanzaIn-Flight Simulation In-Flight Simulation

Learjet Learjet

Aerobatic BonanzaAerobatic Bonanza

G-force awarenessG-force awareness StallsStalls Confidence Confidence

maneuversmaneuversBasic aerobaticsBasic aerobatics

Unusual attitudeUnusual attitude recovery recoveryNose highNose highNose lowNose low

Aerobatic BonanzaAerobatic BonanzaNose Low > 90Nose Low > 90 Announce

Unload

Roll

LevelWings

Pitch

Evaluate

Aerobatic BonanzaAerobatic BonanzaWhy Not Pull Through?Why Not Pull Through?

Aerobatic BonanzaAerobatic BonanzaNose Low RecoveryNose Low Recovery

Aerobatic BonanzaAerobatic BonanzaNose Low RecoveryNose Low Recovery

In-Flight Simulation LearjetIn-Flight Simulation Learjet Transport characteristicsTransport characteristics

Unusual Attitude Unusual Attitude RecoveryRecovery

Aircraft dynamicsAircraft dynamics Stability changesStability changes PIO tendencyPIO tendency Dutch RollDutch Roll

Upset eventsUpset events Flight control failuresFlight control failures Wake turbulenceWake turbulence

In-Flight Simulation LearjetIn-Flight Simulation Learjet

In-Flight Simulation LearjetIn-Flight Simulation LearjetRudder HardoverRudder Hardover

Loss of ControlLoss of Control

Why the topic?Why the topic? The perfectly good The perfectly good

airplane partairplane part Who loses control?Who loses control? Why Why do pilots lose do pilots lose

control?control? What is being doneWhat is being done What can be done?What can be done? Why not you?Why not you?

Thank YouThank You

Comments or Questions?Comments or Questions?

Losing ControlLosing Controlof a of a

Perfectly Good AircraftPerfectly Good Aircraft