Flight Safety Detectives

• Landing Gear Failure Leads to Fatal Plane Crash - Episode 261

  An examination of the preliminary NTSB report of a February 10, 2025 crash of a Learjet 35 that killed the pilot. Todd Curtis, Greg Feith, and John Goglia examine the issues with the landing gear that caused the accident.The flight crew was conducting a normal approach and was apparently unaware that the left main landing gear had failed. Witness photos taken during the approach showed that the left main landing gear was twisted almost 180 degrees from its normal position.About eight months before the accident in Scottsdale, the aircraft had an incident in Oklahoma where the left main landing gear sustained damage. Although the NTSB found that a hard landing inspection was performed after the incident, there was no mention of what specific inspections were done. Photos show that the left main landing gear was not properly lubricated. John discussed how investigations often do not look deeply into the causes of maintenance issues, often stopping their investigation at the maintenance hangar door. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• Is it Safe to Fly? - Episode 260

  A look at several recent high-profile aviation accidents. Although flying is much less risky than decades ago, crashes change the public's opinion about aviation safety. It now feels less safe to fly.The February 17 crash in Toronto of an Endeavor Airlines CRJ-900 operating as a Delta Air Lines regional flight gets particular emphasis. Todd Curtis, Greg Feith and John Goglia compare the Toronto crash to three other crashes where the wings broke off, the aircraft ended up inverted, and there was a post-crash fire. The 1997 crash of a FedEx MD11 at Newark Airport is one similar event. John was the NTSB board member leading the on-site investigation.The detectives discuss the known evidence and what is expected to be uncovered during the investigation. The crash is being investigated in Canada, so the release of public information is expected to be somewhat limited.Witnesses both inside and outside the accident aircraft published videos shortly after the accident. These make it possible to estimate the aircraft's speed before landing and average descent rate as well as see the initial breakup of the aircraft.The videos also offer a case study of evacuation practices and issues. While the videos provide valuable insights for investigators, the passengers who took videos during the evacuation jeopardized safety.Hear why the evacuation slides did not deploy. The detectives share the smart decisions made by the flight crew to avoid issues that happened in the Miracle on the Hudson event.The detectives separate fact from fiction in the media commentary about the Toronto accident. Some experts are just plain wrong. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• Drone Pilot Guilty of Far More than Aircraft Damage - Episode 259

  The pilot of the drone that damaged a firefighting aircraft has pled guilty to causing the damage that grounded the Candian SuperScooper for several days. The event was detailed in Episode 253.The pilot, a successful video game developer, paid over $65,000 to repair the aircraft, will reimburse the government Quebec for additional costs, and faces up to a year in prison. In the words of the Department of Justice, the pilot "recklessly flew an aircraft into airspace where first responders were risking their lives in an attempt to protect lives and property."The pilot did more than damage the plane. He violated aviation safety practices. The pilot should have known that what he was doing was dangerous.Flying a drone into an area where firefighters and firefighting aircraft were dealing with an emergency Flying the aircraft out of his visual line of sight, violating one of the basic regulations for flying a small drone John Goglia and Todd Curtis discuss the risks related to drone flights. They offer advice for all drone pilots. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• The Aftermath of the DC Mid-Air Collision - Episode 258

  The midair collision between an airliner and a military helicopter in Washington D.C. has led to actions that may hinder aviation safety and national security. And, it has highlighted issues caused by the current air traffic control system as well as vacant leadership positions at the FAA. Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis talk about the aviation safety issues surrounding the tragic air crash and the impact of political reactions. They cover the information released by investigators. Knee-jerk reactions from authorities like halting certain flight operations, leadership gaps in the FAA, and politicians, including President Trump, speculating on the cause of the accident before the facts were all in have all added to the complication of understanding these tragic events.Midair collisions with airliners are rare. It has been 38 years since the last airliner midair in the U.S. John Goglia shares his personal experience with a midair accident when he had released the accident aircraft just a few hours before everyone on board was killed in a midair collision. Greg, John and Todd offer meaningful proposals to allow for continued safe operation of Reagan National Airport and a full and complete independent investigation of the accident. This accident presents a meaningful opportunity to examine the current air traffic control system in the U.S. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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• UAVs, Advanced Air Mobility and Crowded Air Space - Episode 257

  Nick Lappos, former Vietnam AH-1 Cobra helicopter pilot and Lockheed Martin Senior Fellow for Rotary and Mission Systems, offers insights on the future of air mobility. The focus is on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced air mobility (AAM).Nick was part of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) certification task force that just published the report "Challenges to the Commercialization of Advanced Air Mobility.” He shares his expertise on air traffic management. Together with Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis, he digs into the challenges of integrating UAVs into the air traffic control system. They explore what will be needed to manage all types of air vehicles. The AIAA report outlines a technological framework reminiscent of cell phone networks where UAVs are handled in real time in an autonomous or semi-autonomous way.UAVs are expected play a significant role in delivery services and other commercial uses. The discussion covers various aspects of UAV integration, including the certification of vehicles, electronic systems, air traffic control issues, and the economic implications of UAV technology. Extensive planning and cooperation should begin now to ensure a safe future for air space.  Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel, listen at your favorite podcast service and visit the Flight Safety Detectives website. Music: “Inspirational Sports” license ASLC-22B89B29-052322DDB8

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