Presented to: By: Dennis H. Whitley Date: March 1, 2011 Federal Aviation Administration SOUTHERN REGION FAASTeam/Area 1 Approach and Landing Accidents Clearwater Florida CFI’s & Pilots

2 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents Over half of all accidents occur during these phases. The leading accident factor for takeoffs and landings is loss of control (30.2 % of takeoff accidents and 32.8 % of landing accidents). Other factors include obstructions, night operations, runway conditions and weather.

3 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents

4 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Percent of Accidents by Phase of Flight 17% 54%

5 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents Major Factors To Consider –Lack of Situational Awareness - CFIT –Nonstabilized Approaches –Wind (Direction and Velocity) –Obstructions –Weather – Turbulence,Wind Shear, Microburst –Runway (Condition, Length, Slope) –Night (Decreased Visibility)

6 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Why Focus on Landings? Statistics indicate:  46% Of accidents occurred during the Landing phase of Flight.

7 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Stabilized Approach FAA-H A Airplane Flying Handbook

8 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents The Stabilized VFR Approach –On Glide Path, On Airspeed Profile –Approach Segment Airspeeds (Vref) –Downwind –Base –Final –Short Final

9 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Landing - Common Errors  Un-stabilized approach.  Failure to allow enough room on final to set up the approach, necessitating an overly steep approach and high sink rate.  Too low on approach resulting in possibly landing short.  Too low an airspeed on final resulting in inability to flare properly and landing hard. FAA-H A Airplane Flying Handbook

10 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Landing - Common Errors (continued)  Too high an airspeed resulting in floating on round out.  Prematurely reducing power to idle on round out resulting in hard landing.  Touchdown with excessive airspeed.  Excessive and/or unnecessary braking after touchdown.  Failure to maintain directional control. FAA-H A Airplane Flying Handbook

11 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Crosswind Landings

12 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Crosswind Landings Common Errors  Unstabilized approach.  Attempting to land in crosswinds that exceed the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind component.  Inadequate compensation for wind drift on the turn from base leg to final approach, resulting in undershooting or overshooting.  Inadequate compensation for wind drift on final approach. FAA-H A Airplane Flying Handbook

13 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6,  Failure to compensate for increased drag during sideslip resulting in excessive sink rate and/or too low an airspeed.  Touchdown while drifting.  Excessive airspeed on touchdown resulting in loss of control or excessive braking.  Failure to apply appropriate flight control inputs during rollout. Crosswind Landings Common Errors (continued) FAA-H A Airplane Flying Handbook

14 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Go Around From Rejected Landing FAA-H A Airplane Flying Handbook

15 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Go Around Common Errors  Pitch attitude increased excessively resulting in a stall  Applying only partial power  Failure to reconfigure the aircraft (gear and Flaps) for climb  Retracting the flaps too quickly  Elevator trim (excessive forward pressures) FAA-H A Airplane Flying Handbook

16 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents

17 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents

18 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents

19 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents Several types of pilot error can lead to a CFIT accident.

20 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents

21 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents The pilot continues flying the aircraft in the less-than- desirable conditions…and impacts an object, terrain, or water.

22 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Weather Accidents Source: 2008 AOPA Nall Report VFR into IMC

23 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents MSA figures are extremely helpful!

24 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents Know altitude and distance from Be aware of your DA or MDA Pay attention to the MSA Know altitude and distance from Be aware of your DA or MDA Pay attention to the MSA landing airport

25 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) Key Factors –Situational Awareness – Active monitoring/scanning –Weather – Marginal VFR or IMC –Navigational/Communication errors –Terrain –Preflight Preparation and Planning

26 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents

27 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents Fatigue causes bad decisions! Slows problem-solving ability Degrades motor skills Impairs attentiveness Fatigue causes bad decisions! Slows problem-solving ability Degrades motor skills Impairs attentiveness

28 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents Single Pilots Do It All! Pilot Navigator Radio Operator System Manager Record Keeper Flight Attendant Single Pilots Do It All! Pilot Navigator Radio Operator System Manager Record Keeper Flight Attendant

29 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents

30 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents LESSONS LEARNED A current pilot and an airworthy aircraft can get into trouble. The importance of preflight planning and preparation. Night operations require extra planning. Understand flap configurations. Manage Your Focus of Attention. Always fly the aircraft!

31 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 December 6, Approach and Landing Accidents TRAINING SUGGESTIONS Situational Awareness – Contingency plan for every takeoff and landing. “Brief” the landing/go-around procedure, including flaps and airspeeds. Review Graphs and Tables in the POH. Teaching the Stabilized Approach - Profile Practice emergency/evacuation procedures.

32 Federal Aviation Administration Clearwater Florida March 1, 2011 Thanks for Having Me!!!