Alaways check everything
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Alaways check everything
There I was trundling along in my new wonderplane wondering why it tended to turn and roll to starboard when I released pressure on the stick. It was just a gentle pressure I hasten to add.
Not a problem methinks, rudder trim needs adjusting.
After pulling off my best landing in an Auster to date I parked in front of the pump. Prop clunks to a standstill, passenger door gently swings open.....
Prat in left seat hadn't checked it shut properly after dropping off passenger. I've since learned that the door can appear to be shut but the latch isn't fully home. Numpty :o
C'mon own up to the daft mistakes you got away with so the rest of us can learn without having to repeat the experience.
[ 08 August 2001: Message edited by: LowNSlow ]
Not a problem methinks, rudder trim needs adjusting.
After pulling off my best landing in an Auster to date I parked in front of the pump. Prop clunks to a standstill, passenger door gently swings open.....
Prat in left seat hadn't checked it shut properly after dropping off passenger. I've since learned that the door can appear to be shut but the latch isn't fully home. Numpty :o
C'mon own up to the daft mistakes you got away with so the rest of us can learn without having to repeat the experience.
[ 08 August 2001: Message edited by: LowNSlow ]
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Couple of weeks ago, I was doing a check A on a 150 that needed a step ladder to check the tanks. Made a mental note to collect the ladder (that was under the right wing) when I'd finished the walk around. Mental note then obviously mentally deleted as I got in, started up and... lady luck smiled on me.
I'd forgotten my map and cursed myself all the way back to the club. On my return, I spotted the ladder and thanked my lucky stars for the rest of the day. I'm sure if I hadn't had to shut down, I'd have pranged something expensive.
Lesson learnt: Always do a last walk around before getting in.
I'd forgotten my map and cursed myself all the way back to the club. On my return, I spotted the ladder and thanked my lucky stars for the rest of the day. I'm sure if I hadn't had to shut down, I'd have pranged something expensive.
Lesson learnt: Always do a last walk around before getting in.
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I forgot to re-tighten the oil dipstick on the Yak after checking the oil level and adding the traditional 1 litre. Flew for an hour 
Result - minimal actual oil loss, but what did come out was splattered all over the firewall. Co-owner was not best pleased, but I was happy to have learned a lesson cheaply. Phew.
Result - minimal actual oil loss, but what did come out was splattered all over the firewall. Co-owner was not best pleased, but I was happy to have learned a lesson cheaply. Phew.
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Fired up the Arrow with the bird bungs still in. Quite an impressive shower of foam, and the red ribbon flapping gently over the top of the engine air intake. Picking the foam chunks out was awkward though.
The worst thing was I had also done the walkaround before getting in, but having seen the bungs in all day while waiting for passenger to return I was used to seeing them there, so it didn't trigger anything in my mind.
Lesson learnt - look and SEE, listen and HEAR.
Then there was the one I heard about (thankfully before trying it myself) where someone was about to start a C152 with the towbar still attached and sitting nicely in the propellor arc.
The worst thing was I had also done the walkaround before getting in, but having seen the bungs in all day while waiting for passenger to return I was used to seeing them there, so it didn't trigger anything in my mind.
Lesson learnt - look and SEE, listen and HEAR.
Then there was the one I heard about (thankfully before trying it myself) where someone was about to start a C152 with the towbar still attached and sitting nicely in the propellor arc.
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Yesterday, one of the other students was out on a xcountry. He refuellued at the furthest out point, and proceeded to start the return legs of the journey.
However, on getting to the end of the first return leg, about an hours flying... he discovered that the plane had used way more fuel than expected... About 15-20 gallons was gone, when only seven or so should have been used.
It tuned out, that the fuellers in Waco, hadn't got one of the tank caps on correctly and that this allowed the fuel to be sucked out of the tank in flight, and of course, the student had watched them brim the tanks and put on the caps, and had neglected to stick and recheck...
CHECK EVERYTHING !!
However, on getting to the end of the first return leg, about an hours flying... he discovered that the plane had used way more fuel than expected... About 15-20 gallons was gone, when only seven or so should have been used.
It tuned out, that the fuellers in Waco, hadn't got one of the tank caps on correctly and that this allowed the fuel to be sucked out of the tank in flight, and of course, the student had watched them brim the tanks and put on the caps, and had neglected to stick and recheck...
CHECK EVERYTHING !!
Got airborne, turned and flew over the airfield (I was only person there that day), wondered what the white object was next to my car. Returned to the circuit and landed - to go and get my chart. Subsequently my pre-start checks now include "Map - on board".
G
G
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Once took off from a short field in an Archer.
Had to use more trim in the cruise than normal and the airspeed was reluctant to climb over 95kts.
Whoops - I retracted the 25 degrees of flap hanging off the back of the wing and she flew a damn sight better!
Had to use more trim in the cruise than normal and the airspeed was reluctant to climb over 95kts.
Whoops - I retracted the 25 degrees of flap hanging off the back of the wing and she flew a damn sight better!
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Errrrr......well, just after qualifying a good few years ago, I went on a late afternoon flight.....first ever pax next to me....(BTW very good looking blonde who I was out to impress!) Sun low in sky, and called small grass strip A/G radio....informed them I was rejoining....copied circuit details, QFE etc....came into overhead, did the descent deadside, and crossed the field.....thought....UMMMMM houses look bigger than normal......WHOOOPS....forgot to set Airfield QFE on subscale....insead of coming across the field at 800' aal, I wwas actually at 300'aal......needless to say, it was a sphincter tightening moment,as I calmly opened the taps, and climbed back to the correct height on the correct QFE.....
Blush.....
Happy to say that I have not repeated the faux pas
Tailwinds
:o
Blush.....
Happy to say that I have not repeated the faux pas
Tailwinds
:o
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My first ever lesson for my PPL, instructor left the pitot head cover on - about to commence takeoff roll, the tower radioed us ... they could see it. Fire truck kindly came over to take it off so we didn't have to shut down...
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Heard a story a while back, probably just an "urban myth", but it could oh so easily be done and turn very nasty.
Student going solo gets into aeroplane and fires her up, wonders why she won't move, realises "chocks are still in", sets throttle at 1200 rpm, forgets to set brakes and climbs out, pulls the chocks out (which must have been f*****g scary being so close to the prop!!), only to find that one brake isn't on and aircraft starts to wheel around, student realises he'll never make it back into the cockpit before the aircraft hits something so grabs hold of the strut. People in nearby clubhouse look out of window and see King Canute trying to hold back the tide and rush to his assistance.
Mayby this story should be published in "My Worst Day" or "I Learned About Flying From That" but I suppose there'd be so many correct entries!!!
Thankfully the worst thing I've personally done is land at a major international airport without landing clearance... and I'll plead the fifth on that one!
Fly safely
BOTR
Student going solo gets into aeroplane and fires her up, wonders why she won't move, realises "chocks are still in", sets throttle at 1200 rpm, forgets to set brakes and climbs out, pulls the chocks out (which must have been f*****g scary being so close to the prop!!), only to find that one brake isn't on and aircraft starts to wheel around, student realises he'll never make it back into the cockpit before the aircraft hits something so grabs hold of the strut. People in nearby clubhouse look out of window and see King Canute trying to hold back the tide and rush to his assistance.
Mayby this story should be published in "My Worst Day" or "I Learned About Flying From That" but I suppose there'd be so many correct entries!!!
Thankfully the worst thing I've personally done is land at a major international airport without landing clearance... and I'll plead the fifth on that one!
Fly safely
BOTR
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Heard from a friend of mine:
Student rushing to get into the air, but the tow-bar is still attached to the nosewheel.
He gets out to remove the tow-bar but forgets to shut down (yes he was in that much of a hurry). He only realises this upon feeling the whooshing of air near his head as he's bending down to remove the tow-bar.
My most stupid mistake (so far):
I'm running through my before start checklist. I check the trottle movement and friction by moving it through its full range and leaving it where I found it. After completing the checklist, I start up and the engine roars into life and the airplane immediately starts to try to move. I always start with my toes on the brakes, so it didn't move (much).
As you have probably realised by now, the throttle had been left wide open, and during the before start throttle check, I made the mistake of leaving it where I found it instead of where it should be!
[ 14 August 2001: Message edited by: BayAreaLondoner ]
Student rushing to get into the air, but the tow-bar is still attached to the nosewheel.
He gets out to remove the tow-bar but forgets to shut down (yes he was in that much of a hurry). He only realises this upon feeling the whooshing of air near his head as he's bending down to remove the tow-bar.
My most stupid mistake (so far):
I'm running through my before start checklist. I check the trottle movement and friction by moving it through its full range and leaving it where I found it. After completing the checklist, I start up and the engine roars into life and the airplane immediately starts to try to move. I always start with my toes on the brakes, so it didn't move (much).
As you have probably realised by now, the throttle had been left wide open, and during the before start throttle check, I made the mistake of leaving it where I found it instead of where it should be!
[ 14 August 2001: Message edited by: BayAreaLondoner ]
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Picture the scene:
65hrs PPL renting the flying school PA28 140 Cherokee (pretty clapped and underpowered) to take No. 1 daughter and school chum for local flight over said chum's house.
On climb out, sudden rushing wind noise, looked up to see roof latch on door was undone.
Nevermind says I to No 1 daughter undo the door and give it a good slam........
Interesting flight home.....
Only the names have been changed to prtect the innocent.
Still flying after all these years.
65hrs PPL renting the flying school PA28 140 Cherokee (pretty clapped and underpowered) to take No. 1 daughter and school chum for local flight over said chum's house.
On climb out, sudden rushing wind noise, looked up to see roof latch on door was undone.
Nevermind says I to No 1 daughter undo the door and give it a good slam........
Interesting flight home.....
Only the names have been changed to prtect the innocent.
Still flying after all these years.
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As a 30-something hour PPL student, 'confession of mistakes' is the only area where I can safely contribute :-)
On one early solo I took off in a PA-28 without switching on the boost pump. Of course the mechanical pump kept going just fine, but it make me think when I switched it off at the top of the climb and found it was off already. Subsequently I built up a bit of drama-free solo time - and then a few weeks ago I had my first dual trip for a while and made a total dog's ***** of the checks (forgot to check the boost pump before engine start, forgot to change tanks before run-up etc.) My instructor let me get it wrong until just before we moved onto the runway, letting me see if I would pick it up - which I did, but only just in time.
It was one of those occasions where the whole school was running slightly late and I felt under self-imposed pressure to get moving quickly. Now, whenever I feel that same pressure, I try to actually slow down a bit, and do things properly first time rather than badly twice.
On one early solo I took off in a PA-28 without switching on the boost pump. Of course the mechanical pump kept going just fine, but it make me think when I switched it off at the top of the climb and found it was off already. Subsequently I built up a bit of drama-free solo time - and then a few weeks ago I had my first dual trip for a while and made a total dog's ***** of the checks (forgot to check the boost pump before engine start, forgot to change tanks before run-up etc.) My instructor let me get it wrong until just before we moved onto the runway, letting me see if I would pick it up - which I did, but only just in time.
It was one of those occasions where the whole school was running slightly late and I felt under self-imposed pressure to get moving quickly. Now, whenever I feel that same pressure, I try to actually slow down a bit, and do things properly first time rather than badly twice.
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A few flights after I qualified, and I felt I needed to take my girlfriend on a short trip. Being the "expert" in the aircraft, I was very diligent in completing all my checks. At the hold, with all the run-up checks completed, I decided to add a bit of carb heat since there were a few in the circuit to land, and ATC were keeping me. A few aircraft come and go, and I get clearance. On the climb-out I'm thinking it's all a bit sluggish, and the attitude does not feel right for 79kts, and I'm getting worried a little. Finally get to 1000ft, only to turn off fuel pump, to notice carb heat still on. Doh!
Lesson to learn - get into a strict routine - it you do something out of the ordinary, don't move on to another task...
The other cracker I did was switching on the radio, but not the volume - asking for taxi about 10 times before I figured it out. The other cracker is moving off the stand with the fuel lever set to off - you can go about 3-4 feet in a Warrior...
Lesson to learn - get into a strict routine - it you do something out of the ordinary, don't move on to another task...
The other cracker I did was switching on the radio, but not the volume - asking for taxi about 10 times before I figured it out. The other cracker is moving off the stand with the fuel lever set to off - you can go about 3-4 feet in a Warrior...