Introduction
Practice, planning, and good judgment can improve the odds tremendously, but despite our best intentions, sometimes things just go wrong. In this Safety Advisor, we’ll look at ways to handle those critical “up here, wishing you were down there” situations as safely as possible.
What is an emergency? It seems like an easy question at first glance, but it’s a little harder to pin down when you stop to think about it. Is an engine failure an emergency? What if it happens at 5,000 agl, in perfect weather, with 20 suitable landing spots within gliding distance? In emergencies, context is everything. The location. The weather. The pilot. The airplane. The circumstances in which a problem occurs can make it a virtual non-event— or turn it into a nightmare (imagine that same engine failure at 300 agl during a night takeoff over a partially frozen lake).
Initial Response
You’re droning along in cruise when suddenly a problem arises. What to do? The first step should be to perform a very basic initial assessment:
1) What’s wrong?
2) How critical is it?
3) How much time do I have?
The most dangerous situation is one that’s both serious and requires immediate action. Engine failures shortly after takeoff, or oxygen system failures at 25,000 feet, come to mind. These are the kinds of issues for which pilots should be “spring-loaded.” Significant time should be devoted to training for them, and immediate responses should be practiced regularly and (in the case of engine failure on takeoff) briefed prior to departure.
If the problem is mechanical or electrical, there’s a chance that it won’t be immediately obvious what’s wrong. Given time, attempt to determine the cause—both because it might be fixable and on the chance that you can keep it from getting worse, or causing other problems. Study the panel and any other indications (smells, sights, sounds) and try to reach a conclusion. You might have to interpret information from multiple sources. For example: What if the oil pressure dropped to zero, but the engine continued to run normally and the oil temperature was steady? Also remember that the situation may have been precipitated by something the pilot did, or failed to do. Into the category of self-induced emergencies fall such blunders as switching to an empty fuel tank (or forgetting to switch tanks) and grabbing the wrong power lever—mixture instead of throttle, for example.
If the beginning of a problem coincided with something you did, undo it! With respect to checklists: In an emergency, it’s best to have the immediate action steps for certain situations— engine failure, fire, etc.—committed to memory. Once the immediate situation is under control, break out the checklist and verify that the proper steps have been taken. If need be, delve into further troubleshooting at that point.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário