Pre Flight test leading to Disaster
... A cautionery tale about fastening down the oil inspection cover.
I have often felt uneasy about flimsy butterfly fastenings on the oil inspection openings on certain Cessna singles although this may have no bearing on the following. A fellow pilot not of a Cessna but a Piper Arrow some years ago had problems with the oil inspection cover during pre flight checks - resulting in failing to close the flap down securely.
Consequently during the flight the flap sprung open - causing some alarm. The pilot attempted a swift landing at North Weald but failed to notice
the glider launch cable untill the last minute or two and then attempted an overshoot that resulted in a crash landing in the trees close to the
M11 motorway.
The net result being - sadly his passenger killed - and the pilot confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life.
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