Best Practices From Lessons Learned

This article is part of a series sponsored by IAT.

Most airplane accidents are caused by human error. An estimated 69% of non-commercial aircraft accidents in motion by 2021 were caused by pilot error. Proper winter maintenance, however, can help you stay safe and avoid catastrophic consequences during cold weather flight operations.

5 ways to keep winter air travel safe

Effective cold weather planning can prevent costly mistakes and save time, resources and most importantly, lives. Here are five ways to keep you, your passengers, and your plane safe this winter:

1. Plan your cold weather activities.

Pay special attention to the following during the winter season:

• After arriving, fill the fuel tanks to prevent new moisture from forming. Always burn your fuel during the flight to remove any dirt and more importantly, water. If possible, this should be carried out in a warm place to ensure that any ice melts and is removed from the tanks.
• If your airplane has a carbureted engine, use carb heat during reduced power settings to prevent or melt carb crust. Always consult your driver’s manual first as carburetor ice can cause the engine to lose power partially or completely. Carb ice usually forms below 70 degrees Fahrenheit with 90% humidity, but it can form even at 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 50% humidity.
• Make sure your cabin has a working carbon monoxide detector that will alert you in advance of any problems that may arise since a leak in the ventilation system in the cabin heating system can cause serious problems quickly.
• Close the pitot tube, vents, and engine inlets to keep insects and small animals out of your plane. It doesn’t take much for these little riders to wreak havoc.
  In a $1 million loss incident, an airplane wing was assembled after mud-dying wasps lodged in the fuel outlet, preventing pressure equalization in the wing, during high-altitude flight. Warmth-seeking rodents can also get inside your engine through uncovered engine inlets. They can chew through a fuel line and leave you suddenly stranded without fuel mid-flight.
• Always have a winter survival pack on board. If you have to go down to an emergency, having blankets, gloves, hats, food and water can be the difference between life and death. Review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) comprehensive kit checklist to see 14 items you should always have in your pocket.

2. Stay up-to-date on your license.

Think of your driver’s license as an ongoing opportunity to update your knowledge, acquire new information and sharpen your skills. Attend safety seminars to learn from other people’s mistakes. Don’t underestimate the importance of knowing your flight. If you are transitioning to a new or unfamiliar aircraft or if you are facing any challenges with your existing aircraft, spend time with a certified flight instructor (CFI) to get the help you need to fly safely.

Simulators and rental aircraft of the same make and model are useful, but your aircraft may have equipment and safety features that differ from other aircraft you have flown. In critical situations, such as vacuum or electrical failure in meteorological instrument (IMC) conditions, familiarizing yourself with your aircraft can save lives.

The pilot accumulated a lot of sim time and a lot of time with his CFI, but he didn’t realize that his plane had a feature that the flight simulator didn’t have. This is an example of a fatal accident that could have been prevented if the pilot had flown his own plane and not just a simulator. During an in-flight event, that feature probably would have saved his life if he had known it was there.

In addition, you may require your regular passengers to take a pilot course with him where they will learn the life-saving basics of flying in an emergency.

3. Respect your personal boundaries.

Perform and follow the FAA’s IM SAFE Personal Checklist before every flight to determine if illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue and/or emotions may affect your ability to concentrate on the flight. Beyond FAA and flight certificate restrictions, it’s important to set and stick to your own boundaries. If you haven’t flown in IMC conditions or in strong crosswinds, be aware of what you can handle. Respect your limits, and you’ll avoid most of the claims we see.

4. Take it seriously to prepare for preflight and prelanding.

Although pre-flight preparation is a must, pilots are often in a hurry or distracted and forget to do all the necessary things. Always complete your walk-in procedure, and triple-check the fuel lines, fuel caps and quantity.

Read airport maps, listen to radio communications and read Important Air Operations Notices (NOTAMs). You may be tempted to ignore this if you are used to the airport, but there are many variables that can change. Check NOTAMs for airport warnings about everything from taxiway closures to bird traffic on the day.

Once you’re in the air, use GUMPS to remember your pre-arrival checklist: Glike, Uundercarriage, Mproperty, Propeller too Switches/ Sfood belts. Forgetting to lower your gear to land, for example, can mess up your flight.

Most important: Do not accept an Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance that you are not comfortable canceling and may cause a safety issue. Pilots often feel obligated to do whatever the air traffic controller says, but you are in charge and ultimately responsible for your decisions and actions.

In one tragic case, the pilot was flying with his wife and a friend when ATC told him to tighten up, turn now, and reach the ground. The pilot made some maneuvering errors that led to the stall accelerating, and the plane crashed, killing everyone on board. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, put safety first, increase your pattern in heavy traffic and ask ATC for an amended clearance.

5. Engage in preventive maintenance.

Engines run better and generally give you a smoother ride when cold, but don’t let that delay your maintenance schedule. Aircraft maintenance is determined by time, not mileage, and engine, propeller or component overhaul is recommended or required after a certain threshold (usually 2,000 to 2,400 hours of flight time or 60 months) is reached. Always check with your engine, propeller or component manufacturer for recommended maintenance schedules.

In addition, operate your aircraft regularly as sitting engines can wear down quickly. Oil that sits in your engine can cause rust and other problems. Regular oil changes (as recommended by your engine manufacturer), especially during long periods of inactivity, can reduce wear.

Prevent the possible and plan for the unexpected

Accidents can still happen even with the best cold weather preparations, so take these steps to ensure you operate your aircraft properly and comply with potential warnings:

1. Always write down your flight timeeven if you don’t make time to fly in sales. Most insurances require a minimum number of flight hours to qualify, and more experience can equate to better rates. You will be required to provide your logbook for proof.
2. Read your policy and review your testing requirements. Confusion can arise from the differences between insurance and pilot requirements, so if you don’t understand something, just ask!

Take the metal technology check (IPC), for example. Technically, this requirement applies if the pilot has not met the cash requirements within six calendar months, but some insurance policies require an IPC every year without FAA requirements. In one instance, a claim was rejected after a fatal accident because the pilot had not completed his IPC within 12 months, and his widow did not receive benefits for the cost of the flight or for the death of her husband.

Every policy also outlines specific testing requirements and qualifications. If, for example, you loan your plane to a friend who doesn’t meet those requirements, your plane is now uninsured.

Winter weather is full of beauty and wonder – especially when you’re flying – so make the most of the season and do everything you can to stay safe while in the air.

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