The United Airlines engine failure is back in the news. Service bulletins and/or airworthiness directives may be issued soon. Investigation of fire suppression issues continue. Three months after the accident, issues related to crew performance are just surfacing.
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John and Greg catch listeners up on the investigation, how it is illustrating NTSB shortcomings, and the need for the FAA to revisit increasingly outdated flight regulations.

The NTSB preliminary report of a March 27 helicopter crash in Alaska that killed five people sheds little light on the cause. John, Greg, and guest Jason Lukasik explore the many factors that could have contributed to the fatal accident.
The onsite inspection is the most important part of the investigation. In this case, the investigation is stalled by poor weather conditions.

The PAMA board recently voted to change the fee for students to join the trade association, from $20 per year to $0.

"We know that PAMA's future is dependent on future aviators, and we thought it was important that membership be made accessible to all students that qualify," said PAMA President John Goglia. "We know that once students become involved in this community, they will be life-long members."

To qualify, students must make application using their school-assigned email. Students at educational institutions with a part 147 certificate or avionics program are eligible for to apply.

Apply at pama.org/join.

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.