EAA Sport Aviation - November 2010

At this time of year especially, we should pay attention to the consequences of a good flight gone wrong. Should we end up in the water in the wintertime anywhere but in a tropical region, our flying career could be cut tragically short. As shown in Table 1 on page 60, time is limited when we’re floating around in cold water. After a mere 15 minutes in near-freezing water, we can’t help ourselves, let alone anyone else. If we find ourselves floating rather than flying, it does little good to be able to say, “Well, I was following the regulations.” Being legal isn’t the same as being safe or smart, and perhaps we should err on the side of conservatism when it comes to survival equipment and overwater flights.

A few years back on a warm July day, a charter pilot in a Piper Cherokee Six (PA-32-300) experienced an engine failure while carrying a passenger from Block Island, Rhode Island, to Groton, Connecticut. Unfortunately, the pilot was not within gliding distance of shore, and his best option was to ditch in open water near a barge. The water was warm and calm, and the pilot made a “good” water landing. He and his passenger exited the aircraft without incident, but having no flotation devices aboard, they used 5-gallon buckets to remain afloat and made it to the barge, where they waited for help. The aircraft sank within two minutes.

All too often, such an emergency doesn’t have such a happy ending. Sometimes the challenge of extricating ourselves and assisting our passengers from the wreckage before it sinks is overwhelming.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Safe egress from an aircraft in the water can be extremely challenging, especially if the aircraft flips over or injuries occur. Without emergency egress training, mistakes are likely in an attempt to escape. With water rushing in and the aircraft in an unusual attitude, an individual who unbuckles his harness and attempts to exit can quickly become disoriented, with fatal consequences.

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