EAA Sport Aviation - February 2010

and then tighten their seat belt. As former National Transportation Safety Board (N TSB) investigator Greg Feith explained, this minimizes the potential of being slammed in the chest by the control yoke, which can be a fatal blow. Unfortunately, as pilot, you’ll need to keep your seat forward to maintain control of the airplane until it comes to a complete stop. Turn off the magnetos and electrical system (potential fire hazard), and secure the fuel system to minimize the potential for spilled fuel at

REPORTING AN ACCIDENT

Federal regulations require that the NTSB be notified
immediately in the event of an aviation accident
and certain incidents. It is also important that a
NASA Aviation Safety Report (ASR) be filed within
10 days if you think you may have committed a
violation to the FARs. An accident is defined as
an occurrence associated with the operation of
an aircraft that takes place between the time any
person boards the aircraft with the intention of
flight and all such persons have disembarked, and
in which any person suffers death or serious injury,
or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.
An incident is an occurrence other than an accident
that affects or could affect the safety of operations.

Effective March 8, 2010, the NTSB has modified
certain reporting requirements. Be sure to familiarize
yourself with the changes as soon as possible.
For information on how to file an
NTSB and/or NASA report and links
to the proper forms, visit
www.SportAviation.org.

the crash site. Besides, the last thing you need is a sudden engine restart when you’re about to touch down. Whether to leave the doors secured or ajar is another hotly debated question. Closed doors help maintain the structural integrity of the airframe. Jammed doors can increase the challenge of exiting the aircraft in the aftermath of an off-field landing.

Many pilots get hung up on whether to put the gear up or down. There is no one right answer. Rather, it depends on the situation. Extended gear can help absorb the energy of an off-field landing, but it can also trip the airplane, causing it to flip over or tumble. In soft-field conditions, gear up might be the best choice for maintaining control until the aircraft stops. Look at the terrain ahead and give it your best shot.

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