prescription for an accident

The KentuckyThe Kentucky

Flight StandardsFlight Standards

District OfficeDistrict OfficeBruce Edsten, Bruce Edsten, Aviation Aviation Safety Program ManagerSafety Program Manager

PRESCRIPTION

FOR ANFOR AN

ACCIDENACCIDENTT

California-based California-based aircraft, westbound aircraft, westbound from the Washington, from the Washington, D.C. area, bound for D.C. area, bound for LEX.LEX.

Contacted LEX, Contacted LEX, reported rough reported rough running engine and running engine and losing power.losing power.

Aircraft impacted a hill Aircraft impacted a hill east of Lexington, near east of Lexington, near Mount Sterling.Mount Sterling.

Injured pilot hospitalized, Injured pilot hospitalized, aircraft recovered and aircraft recovered and taken to Mount Sterling taken to Mount Sterling Airport.Airport.

How How long did long did it take it take for all for all THIS to THIS to happen?happen?

Shouldn’t this have Shouldn’t this have been corrected at been corrected at the last annual?the last annual?

ANNUAL? ANNUAL? What Annual?What Annual?

No evidence of any No evidence of any maintenance of any maintenance of any kind on the aircraft for kind on the aircraft for YEARS!YEARS!

Right Main Fuel Right Main Fuel FillerFiller

This condition brought This condition brought to pilot’s attention by to pilot’s attention by FBO.FBO.

Pilot declined repair or Pilot declined repair or replacement on more replacement on more than one occasion.than one occasion.

Several rainy days in Several rainy days in the D.C. area during the D.C. area during visit.visit.

Left Main Fuel FillerLeft Main Fuel Filler

Lexington, Kentucky is Lexington, Kentucky is well within a 182’s range well within a 182’s range from the D.C. area. from the D.C. area.

He could have made it on He could have made it on the left tank alone, but we the left tank alone, but we don’t know what he don’t know what he started with started with or how much or how much leaked out!leaked out!

From carburetor float From carburetor float chamber!chamber!

Purple Purple liquid . . . liquid . . . never never identified!identified!

Very poor or non-Very poor or non-existent preflight existent preflight inspection and inspection and preflight preflight planning!planning!

Lots of different types of Lots of different types of medication!medication!

Virtually all of the Virtually all of the medicines and/or the medicines and/or the ailments they would likely ailments they would likely be used to treat would be used to treat would medically disqualify the medically disqualify the pilot. pilot.

Should have been caught Should have been caught on his last medical!on his last medical!

Medical? Medical? What medical? What medical?

No evidence that the pilot No evidence that the pilot had obtained a medical any had obtained a medical any time in the last several time in the last several years!years!

What was his profession? What was his profession? Hint: he should have been Hint: he should have been flying a Bonanza! AKA the flying a Bonanza! AKA the F.T.D.K.!F.T.D.K.!

Despite the Despite the vintage of the vintage of the aircraft, note aircraft, note the pristine the pristine condition of condition of the shoulder the shoulder harness!harness!

Seat Seat belt belt looks looks pretty pretty good, good, too!too!

Note that the buckle is Note that the buckle is tucked in between tucked in between cushion and spring!cushion and spring!

Despite the relatively Despite the relatively slight damage to the slight damage to the

airframe, the pilot was a airframe, the pilot was a

FATALITY!FATALITY!Multiple injuries from Multiple injuries from contact with the panel contact with the panel

and control wheeland control wheel

What a surprise . . . What a surprise . . . . .. .

What is this thing?What is this thing?

No problem, just check the No problem, just check the records for a field records for a field approval!approval!

How many things How many things did he do wrong?did he do wrong?

Which one was the Which one was the one that killed one that killed him?him?

Big mistakes . . .Big mistakes . . .

•MaintenanceMaintenance•PreflightPreflight•Fuel ManagementFuel Management•Medical ConditionMedical Condition•MedicationsMedications•Seatbelt/Harness useSeatbelt/Harness use

Thanks Thanks for for coming!coming!