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Total recall
If not for an experienced engineer’s long and detailed memory, a serious in-flight incident might have remained a mystery
By Robert Wilson
It’s something not meant to happen on modern passenger aircraft – but it did...
Phoney maintenance
by Roger Alder
‘Never, in the history of aviation maintenance, have so many been distracted by so little.’
With apologies to Sir Winston Churchill, who was paying respect to WWII Battle of Britain air aces. The...
The hour cometh
A recent airworthiness directive from the US Federal Aviation Administration highlights the difficult issues surrounding the ageing general aviation aircraft fleet.
Some things just seem eternal: sunrise, sunset and rock ‘n’ roll music for anyone...
Hot and confused
A tangle of misinformation about engine bay flammable fluid flexible hoses needs clearing up
Dangerous ideas are not always outrageous. Sometimes they arise out of simple misunderstandings, turgid language or the unfortunate situation where a...
Rationalising airworthiness
Thomas P. Turner
The pilot of a vintage Cessna 120 taildragger noticed over time that the aeroplane’s battery would not always hold a charge. It wasn’t uncommon that he would prepare the aeroplane for flight...
The cable saga
In the five years since a very near miss put the issue of flight control deterioration into clear focus, sixty-one unserviceable and potentially dangerous cables have been discovered on aircraft, and four cable failures.
It...
Grinding gear
A known and documented problem continues to cause embarrassment and expense for Cessna operators.
It was a memorable sightseeing trip, for the wrong reasons. The aircraft passengers got a ‘near death experience’ anecdote to enliven...
The Duchess and the case of the disappearing bolt
A recurrent issue on a popular training aircraft illustrates the many factors influencing aircraft reliability.
The Beechcraft Model 76 Duchess has introduced a sizeable proportion of Australia commercial pilots to the pleasures and perils of...
Caps tanks and drains: a three-pronged attack
To state the obvious: water in fuel is A. Bad. Thing. Whether avgas or jet A1, fuel and water just don’t mix. And water makes engines stop.
Water in fuel takes two forms, dissolved...
Loose trim, close shave
Your aeroplane’s trim tabs are proof that size does not always equate to importance. Trim tabs are used to counteract forces on the control surfaces so that an aeroplane can be flown straight and...
Airworthiness spotlight
Planet gears implicated in Norway helicopter crash
The Norwegian Accident Investigation Board (AIBN) has issued another preliminary report into the helicopter crash...
Engine explosion jet returns to skies
Airliner take-offs happen several times every second of every day somewhere throughout the world, but...
Cessna deadline extended
Cessna aircraft that faced an airworthiness deadline of 31 December 2015 now have another three...
Vulcan farewells the heavens
A glorious spectacle is gone from the skies of Britain, with the retirement of the...
Bulletins highlight D-ring dangers
Helicopter Winching and Passenger seat belt attachment warning
CASA has published a series of airworthiness...
Directive covers possible instrument failure
Primary flight instruments that could fail without notice or indication are the subject of a...
Check your hose before it blows
When did you last think about your aircraft’s hoses? Have you ever thought about how...
CASA considers changes to propeller inspections
CASA is proposing clearer and simpler criteria for propeller maintenance. A proposed amendment to airworthiness...
CASA grounds R44s after NZ crash
CASA has issued an emergency airworthiness directive grounding Robinson R44 helicopters over fears the main...
SIDS program finds dangerous defects
Cessna owners are getting a safety dividend from the SIDS (supplemental inspection documents) inspections that...
Door jam alert for Super Pumas
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an airworthiness directive for the Airbus Helicopters...
Crash discovery prompts fuel valve check
A fatal crash at Broome in 2012 has resulted in an airworthiness bulletin for operators...
Hot under the hood
Service Difficulty Report – 510019053
Component: Personal breathing equipment (PBE)
Problem: Faulty oxygen generator
Possible consequence: Fire injury
An...
Bulletin highlights corrosive effects
Engines usually wear from the inside out but corrosion can shorten their lives and even...
Window surround cracking
Service Difficulty Report - 510018970
Aircraft: Swearingen SA227-DC Metro 23 (a twin-engine, 19-passenger turboprop often...