Inadvertent IMC. Real Threat Realistic Interventions

Transcription

1 Inadvertent IMC Real Threat Realistic Interventions

2 Bryan Rich Weber Smith Jacksonville Sheriff s Office Chief Pilot ALEA Safety Program Manager Seminole County Sheriff s Office

3 A The Bell He navigation 206 begins is cruising to lose system situational 3700 develops - Night awarenessa problem VFR and starts Dark and coastal showing control area, incorrect of the no aircraft urban position lighting information Pilot The is pilot a CFI Altitude: attempts with an to instrument adjust course, rating not understanding what is going on this Radar returns stop at 900 Pilot stops making radio transmissions

4 RISK ANALYSIS RISK CONTROL ASSURANCE HAZARD ID SMS

5 Flight Plan 1. Scope of the problem 2. Analysis Analysisofoffactors factorsinvolved involvedininiimc IIMC 3. Recommended solutions RISK ANALYSISRISK CONTROL HAZARD ID SMS ASSURANCE

6 1.Scope of the problem National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Jan Aug accidents related to spatial disorientation occurred IIMC and darkness reported as causal factors in 82% of these accidents Of the 71 accidents, 85% were fatal

7 The pilot advised the SAR personnel to load quick, as he had no intentions of spending the night there...they lost sight of the helicopter about 50 feet agl. They continued to hear the helicopter to the time of a collision sound, followed by the sound of an avalanche. ~Excerpt from a NTSB report of a law enforcement IIMC/CFIT accident with multiple fatalities

8 1.Scope of the problem The helicopter then entered a climbing left turn which continued through 360 degrees; this was followed by a series of erratic turns, climbs, and descents. The Garmin data for the accident flight ended at 2320:17; the duration of the flight was about 7 minutes; and the last position recorded placed the helicopter about 3 miles south of the takeoff point and 13 miles north of Sunshine.

9 Not just clouds 1. Total darkness can easily create Instrument Flying Conditions 2. This is true even when equipped with NVGs 3. Darkness can swap VMC to IMC just as quickly as weather conditions, sometimes faster (i.e. turn away from shoreline) 4. Designated weather minimums to not offer us any risk management protection from entering IMC due to darkness

10 1.Scope of the problem Accidents Fatalities CFIT (IIMC) 10 (8) 18 Wire Strikes 6 10 Training 24 2 LTE 8 3 Mechanical Failure 18 0 * Worldwide - all aircraft categories

11 Flight Plan 1. Scope of the problem 2. Analysis of of factors involved in in IIMC 3. Recommended solutions Instrument flying is an unnatural act, probably punishable by God. ~Gordon Baxter

12 Analysis of factors involved in IIMC Operational Factors Risk in turning down a flight 76% of VFR-IMC accidents - Intentional Revenueflight into adverse Loss of weather life Presence of passengers - 54% higher frequency of IIMC

13 Analysis of factors involved in IIMC Operational Factors Tasks given us do not wait for good flying conditions Our weather limits are set to our safety limits. Anything lower is unsafe Many flights begin at this weather limit Reliable weather reporting in the areas we fly is often not available

14 Analysis of factors involved in IIMC What is the second highest flight activity category?

15 Instrument Ratings and IIMC HAA accidents 10,693 hours % accidents Instrument rated spacial disorientation* Instrument rated trooper in the left seat (not trained TFO) 141 hours actual instrument, 247 simulated.5 actual in helicopter, 38 simulated 1738 hours SAR