Senior Moments
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Cheshire
Senior Moments
Getting towards mid-sixties, I suppose it's reasonable to expect a few minor "senior moments". But it's slightly more alarming when it involves the hobby of aviation !
On Saturday last the weather was glorious, and I flew around our local area for just over an hour. Did a smooth landing, refuelled, parked, paid for fuel . . . . . . . and then
went home leaving the master switch still on ! ! ! Because it was so sunny, the rotating tail beacon was not obvious, and was not spotted for over two more hours ! Result : battery completely flat !
In over 23 years of flying same plane (and had PPL 26 years) I have NEVER done this before. Just so embarrassing !
Anyone else got any "senior moments" they are willing to admit to and tell others about on here ?
On Saturday last the weather was glorious, and I flew around our local area for just over an hour. Did a smooth landing, refuelled, parked, paid for fuel . . . . . . . and then
went home leaving the master switch still on ! ! ! Because it was so sunny, the rotating tail beacon was not obvious, and was not spotted for over two more hours ! Result : battery completely flat !
In over 23 years of flying same plane (and had PPL 26 years) I have NEVER done this before. Just so embarrassing !
Anyone else got any "senior moments" they are willing to admit to and tell others about on here ?
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,198
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From: South Norfolk, England
I dunno if I should admit to this 
I once landed after an hour or so of local flying and realised I'd not strapped in!
So much for pre-flight, and pre-landing checks
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............. Still not sure I should have admitted to that one
I once landed after an hour or so of local flying and realised I'd not strapped in!
So much for pre-flight, and pre-landing checks .............
.............
.............
............. Still not sure I should have admitted to that one
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,290
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From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
The old master switch senior moment I've done at least twice. I'm advanced for my age.
My worst senior moment was a double-header on one flight. I used to own a Blanik L33 solo sailplane. One flight I was a little rushed as the towplane was ready to hook up before I had my brain engaged. The glider was a lot louder than usual. I rationalized it as tape coming off the wing root or the little panel behind the headrest being not pulled in tight. After about 1.5 hours, in conditions that looked a lot better than they seemed to be, I was looking out at the wings and realized the spoilers were cracked. Locked them down, it got a lot quieter and all of a sudden performance was much better. As I was about 10 miles away at the time, the newly found performance emboldened me and I struck out a bit further. While running between some clouds in and out of sink I hit a good bump and hit my head on the canopy. I think "well, I should probably tighten up the harness a bit." Looked down to find I was sitting on the lap belt, one shoulder harness, and the other shoulder harness was back in the tail cone somewhere. Managed to get myself buckled in without doing a John Denver, though by the time I got my head back in the flying I had burned through 2000', was flying 70kts in bad sink. On the bright side I did have my chute buckled up.
I find that I tend to remember my senior moments in such a way as to prevent their recurrance. Before I get out of the airplane I remember the one time I killed the battery. The other time I killed the battery was a little different, I was showing my dad how the tow reel worked in the hangar, it was out of normal sequence and I forgot to turn it off after the demo. And as far a seatbelts & spoilers, that little flight always crosses my mind as I get ready to go.
-- IFMU
My worst senior moment was a double-header on one flight. I used to own a Blanik L33 solo sailplane. One flight I was a little rushed as the towplane was ready to hook up before I had my brain engaged. The glider was a lot louder than usual. I rationalized it as tape coming off the wing root or the little panel behind the headrest being not pulled in tight. After about 1.5 hours, in conditions that looked a lot better than they seemed to be, I was looking out at the wings and realized the spoilers were cracked. Locked them down, it got a lot quieter and all of a sudden performance was much better. As I was about 10 miles away at the time, the newly found performance emboldened me and I struck out a bit further. While running between some clouds in and out of sink I hit a good bump and hit my head on the canopy. I think "well, I should probably tighten up the harness a bit." Looked down to find I was sitting on the lap belt, one shoulder harness, and the other shoulder harness was back in the tail cone somewhere. Managed to get myself buckled in without doing a John Denver, though by the time I got my head back in the flying I had burned through 2000', was flying 70kts in bad sink. On the bright side I did have my chute buckled up.
I find that I tend to remember my senior moments in such a way as to prevent their recurrance. Before I get out of the airplane I remember the one time I killed the battery. The other time I killed the battery was a little different, I was showing my dad how the tow reel worked in the hangar, it was out of normal sequence and I forgot to turn it off after the demo. And as far a seatbelts & spoilers, that little flight always crosses my mind as I get ready to go.
-- IFMU
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 244
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From: Riga
I dunno if I should admit to this 
I once landed after an hour or so of local flying and realised I'd not strapped in!
So much for pre-flight, and pre-landing checks
I once landed after an hour or so of local flying and realised I'd not strapped in!
So much for pre-flight, and pre-landing checks
Would never admit to having gone as far as you though, especially in a 737 in commercial ops.
(OK, harness was on, just hadn't rotated the buckle release knob far enough back to secure the shoulder straps (I thought). Got downline and found out it also hadn't fully secured the lap strap either (while wriggling to look out for GSU equipment).RIX
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
I always thought thst leaving the master switch on was one of those things that, if you haven't already done it, you will!!
I have!!!
Cheers
Whirls
I have!!!
Cheers
Whirls
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,856
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From: uk
I've never forgotten my straps but, on a flight to LFAT with another pilot with me, we were half way across the water when we realised we had both forgotten to put our life jackets on.
As I approach 70 I am only too aware of real senior moments in my non flying activities but, so far, the only flying ones I will admit to are forgetting to start the descent in a normal circuit after a cross country flight. Just as well I enjoy sideslipping and glide approaches.
As I approach 70 I am only too aware of real senior moments in my non flying activities but, so far, the only flying ones I will admit to are forgetting to start the descent in a normal circuit after a cross country flight. Just as well I enjoy sideslipping and glide approaches.
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Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: UK
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 224
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From: UK
I left the masters on and flattened the battery at Deauville in a PA28. One of the mechanics took it out and put it on charge. He told me to come back in a few hours so I spent a pleasant day in Honnfleur. On my return the mechanic put the battery back in and refused to take any money - even for a drink.
The moral is; if you are going to do something stupid, do it at Deauville. Honnfleur is well worth a visit by the way.
The moral is; if you are going to do something stupid, do it at Deauville. Honnfleur is well worth a visit by the way.
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Hertfordshire
Took off from a relatively short runway on a hot day with carb heat on once. The revs were audibly 'different' and at about 100' realised the error of my ways. Gave myself a thorough beating-up, and vowed never again. Haven't yet !!!
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: STJ
Don't worry...
I'm still in school and after the first year I already saw at my colleagues:
- forgot to latch the door
- forgot to strapp in
- forgot to set the QNH of the landing aerodrome
Now from me:
- forgot to remove the pitot cover (a colleague observed it before starting the engine)
- forgot to strapp in (but remembered about it at the "before takeoff check")
I'm still in school and after the first year I already saw at my colleagues:
- forgot to latch the door
- forgot to strapp in
- forgot to set the QNH of the landing aerodrome
Now from me:
- forgot to remove the pitot cover (a colleague observed it before starting the engine)
- forgot to strapp in (but remembered about it at the "before takeoff check")
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 506
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From: Cheshire
all sorted . . . . . . . !
It's nice to hear of other peoples' "senior moments" ! Glad to know I'm not the only one !
The mention of the altimeter setting in the last post reminded me of a long straight-in approach I made to Welshpool some years back. As I got closer and closer something was just "not right". Then I realised with horror that, although I had been given, and written down, the QFE . . . . . . I had not actually changed the setting on the altimeter ! For those not familiar, Welshpool is 233 ft AMSL, and a busy road crosses nearly at the threshold of rwy 22 !
To continue my joy, our Engineers are closed all the festive week, so no charge or jump leads there ! I had to remove the battery, and bring it home to charge overnight. I've refitted it this afternoon, and the engine fired first turn of the key !
Hopefully, the mistake will never be repeated !
The mention of the altimeter setting in the last post reminded me of a long straight-in approach I made to Welshpool some years back. As I got closer and closer something was just "not right". Then I realised with horror that, although I had been given, and written down, the QFE . . . . . . I had not actually changed the setting on the altimeter ! For those not familiar, Welshpool is 233 ft AMSL, and a busy road crosses nearly at the threshold of rwy 22 !
Result : battery completely flat !
Hopefully, the mistake will never be repeated !
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,086
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From: France
Senior moments.....
Oh yes!
leaving the map behind when flying a triangular x/c in a glider
three hundred miles with a hand towel drying on the strut (which fell off on landing.....)
forgetting to pay for my fuel
But not all on the same flight at least
Oh yes!
leaving the map behind when flying a triangular x/c in a glider
three hundred miles with a hand towel drying on the strut (which fell off on landing.....)
forgetting to pay for my fuel
But not all on the same flight at least