FAAST Blast — Safety Alert for Aluminum Propeller Blades, A Journey to Pilothood, Dangers of VFR into IMC
FAAST Blast — Week of May 13 - 19, 2024
Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
NTSB Safety Alert: Aluminum Propeller Blades
The NTSB has investigated several accidents and incidents where a failure to properly inspect and repair small damage to aluminum propeller blades resulted in propeller blade fatigue cracking and fractures. Aluminum propeller blades can be susceptible to fatigue cracking and fracture if a small nick, pit, or corrosion on the surface or edge is not found and repaired during preflight inspection or maintenance. Such damage can concentrate stress from normal airplane operation loads, resulting in fatigue crack initiation and growth followed by propeller blade fracture.
To address this issue, the NTSB recently issued SA090, available at https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-alerts/Documents/SA090.pdf. The alert directs owners, operators, and pilots to inspect all areas of the propeller blade, including the back/face side of the blade and the leading edge, for damage such as nicks or corrosion. Any findings should be referred to a qualified mechanic for inspection and repaired before further flight.
For additional information, review AC 20-37E, Aircraft Propeller Maintenance and AC 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices – Aircraft Inspection and Repair at https://drs.faa.gov/browse.
Off Course: One Pilot's Unexpected Journey
For some, the dream of becoming a pilot starts at a very early age, but that’s not the only path to pilothood. In a recent episode of the FAA’s podcast The Air Up There, Victoria “V” Ross shares how she went from having zero interest in aviation to becoming a certified pilot and fully embracing it as a career. V discusses the challenges and triumphs that marked her path, aspects of pilot training, and reflects on her experience as a Black woman pilot and how she is breaking barriers and fostering diversity in the aviation community. Listen to this podcast and other episodes at https://www.faa.gov/podcasts.
Avoiding the Perils (and Regrets) of VFR into IMC
Flying VFR into IMC is still one of the most lethal causal factors for GA mishaps. The FAA, NTSB, and various aviation safety advocates from industry and academia alike have tried to determine what happens when a pilot finds themselves in the incredibly hazardous situation of being VFR and then flying into IMC conditions. To learn a few theories, and how to avoid them, check out “Maybe Not Today” at https://medium.com/faa/maybe-not-today-e7d0457762aa in the May/Jun 2024 issue of the FAA Safety Briefing. See the entire IFR flying issue at www.faa.gov/safety_briefing.
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