Mandated inspections are being performed on Piper PA28 aircraft based on airworthiness directive AD 2020-26-16. The Flight Safety Detectives update progress. Listen for what to do and what not to do for affected aircraft.
Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants and former FAA inspector, returns to share preliminary data collected. The cracking issue that prompted the AD is present in about 5% of airplanes inspected so far.
Good news for aircraft owners is that the inspection cost is down to about $700. Bad news is that several mechanics seem to be ignoring the proper procedures for inspections and fixes.
They cover a range of questions and reports from the field including:

• An alternate means of compliance (AMOC) that seems ill-advised
• Importance of using the proper hardware as outlined in the AD
• Simple process for conducting proper inspection

They discuss the possibility that the FAA may include more planes in the AD once data is collected.
Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!

The Federal Aviation Administration took a hit as Congress investigated issues with the 737 Max. What needs to be done to rebuild the FAA’s worldwide stature? How will they regain trust in their certification process?
Guest is Sandy Murdock who served as FAA Chief Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for all rulemaking, environmental, acquisition, personnel, and ethical and litigation matters. Sandy led the FAA legal effort on PATCO strike and was the principal FAA spokesperson with the media for all strike related matters. He also served as Acting FAA Deputy Administrator.
John shares his experience as part of FAA alignment efforts with the European air safety agency, EASA. John recalls promises that were never completed, contributing to friction between the agencies.
Sandy offers perspectives of the many demands on the FAA. He looks at what the agency is equipped to accomplish and offers thoughts in potential paths forward.

​PAMA, in coordination with a generous industry partner, has made available award opportunities for current and future aviation maintenance professionals.

Award winners will be announced at a special virtual awards ceremony this summer.

Future AMT Professional Award, provided by PistonPower™ by AEPC™ (AeroEngine Protection Corp.) 

This $1,000 award is provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses.

Crew resource management (CRM) and safety management systems (SMS) get the spotlight in this discussion. These systems help build safety into every flight.
Special guest is listener Amy Wright, a self-professed “safety nerd” who says she gets “out of breath with excitement” talking about quality processes and safety procedures. Hear about the benefits of well-crafted processes in aviation and beyond.
Systems that encourage everyone to work together have changed the nature of cockpit operations. The pilot is not the only decision maker – he or she is part of a team communicating, sharing information and making decisions.

Catastrophe averted? A Frontier A320 Airbus was set to take off from Nashville when a passenger noticed the deicing looked strange. He alerted the flight crew to the green liquid sitting on top of ice and snow on the wings.
John and Greg share the details of what may have happened, going beyond news coverage of the incident. They offer their insider knowledge of plane deicing procedures.
Among the insights:

• Deicing is extremely expensive for airlines
• Why some flight crews like to avoid “shooting” their planes
• Value of listening to observations from people onboard

Greg shares a story from a recent flight with expert mechanic Jason Lukasik. When Jason noticed a crack in the wing skin of a relatively new Embraer in flight, even he had trouble convincing the flight crew to take note.
The episode includes a review of the latest NTSB update on the United Airlines 777 engine explosion. The Flight Safety Detectives discuss the details shared and items not yet mentioned. John has some predictions for what’s next.
Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!
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Discussion of the United Airlines 777 engine explosion (initiated in Episode 60) continues with guest Mike Borfitz. The focus is the three systems that make up the engine cowling.

At the initial NTSB hearing, the chairman was pointed in saying that the recent event was technically a contained engine failure. Yet, most industry experts say the evidence points to an uncontained failure.

Borfitz is an FAA designated engineering representative. He shares his knowledge of current regulations and expectations. Among his key points is that airframe manufacturers and engine manufacturers must work together to prevent future disasters.

John, Greg and Mike walk through the evidence so far. They discuss the three separate systems that make up an airframe’s engine cowling and how they interface with the engine.

Is it time for regulations to be updated to reflect the current aircraft and engine design and technology? Are new approaches needed to cowling design?

Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!

John and Greg are giving meticulous attention to information available on the recent United Airlines engine explosion. In this episode, they share their initial expert observations and predict what’s next.
Learn what the evidence so far really shows from two of the world’s most experienced accident investigators.

They explain why the crew and air traffic control personnel who handled the flight were “the ideal scenario for handling the situation.” The outcome could have been far worse.

John shares his extensive knowledge of Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines. He walks listeners through the critical components. The forces the fan blades need to endure are explained. John offers an expert look at the engine components and maintenance procedures.
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What’s next? John and Greg talk about the implications of mandated inspections. They also have some predictions for potential actions such as declaring blades in service for a certain period of time at end of life.

John and Greg catch listeners up with some major aviation news. Findings are being shared from the Kobe Bryant crash investigation. The 737-500 crash in Indonesia may be the result of a known issue. Piper single engine aircraft now have an airworthiness directive to be addressed along with two service bulletins.

Kobe Bryant Crash
The NTSB Sunshine Hearing about the 2020 Calabasas helicopter crash
covered expected findings related to weather, spatial awareness and preflight planning. Missing was mention of situational awareness and weather avoidance.

Indonesia Sriwijaya Air Crash
The throttle is the focus of the investigation into the January crash of a 737-500. The plane maintenance history does not make clear if a 2001 Airworthiness Directive related to throttle and thrust issues had been completed.
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Piper Aircraft Wing Issues
Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants and former FAA inspector, returns for continued discussion of the service bulletins and airworthiness directive related to Piper single engine aircraft. The different safety issues addressed in SB 1224C, SB 1304A and AD 2020-26-16 are covered.
Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!