article thumbnail

Split-S Decision

Plane and Pilot

Alongside a nearby highway, some recognizable bits of airplane, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, a horizontal stabilizer and elevator, fell separately to Earth. The breakup started with rudder flutter. Flutter is a dangerous, complex, dynamic aeroelastic phenomenon dependent on true airspeed. The pilot died instantly.

article thumbnail

Split-S Decision

Plane and Pilot

Alongside a nearby highway, some recognizable bits of airplane, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, a horizontal stabilizer and elevator, fell separately to Earth. The breakup started with rudder flutter. Flutter is a dangerous, complex, dynamic aeroelastic phenomenon dependent on true airspeed. The pilot died instantly.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

Navy primary flight training—the instructor had it coming

Air Facts

It was a beefed up, militarized version of the Beechcraft Bonanza with a narrowed fuselage and conventional tail, seating two pilots in tandem cockpits with controls and indicators configured similarly to tactical aircraft of the period. The Navy’s primary trainer was the T-34B.

Cockpit 95
article thumbnail

How to Fly Perfect Lazy Eights

Pilot Institute

We counteract adverse yaw by applying rudder in the direction of the turn. The amount of rudder required depends on roll rate and airspeed. Airspeed and attitude change constantly, and we must change rudder input along with them. We apply right rudder to counteract the left-turning tendencies.

Rudder 52
article thumbnail

Basic attitude instrument flying – the foundation for IFR flight

Flight Training Central

For heading corrections of five degrees or less, keep the wings level and use rudder pressure to change the heading. To enter a constant airspeed climb, raise the nose to bring the miniature airplane the predetermined position above the horizon bar. Adjustments of the climb attitude will be dictated by the indicated airspeed.

Descent 52
article thumbnail

Invisible Trap Kills Glider Pilot – How To Avoid Microbursts

Chess In the Air

Without knowing the horizontal wind direction and speed at this point it is impossible to say what his indicated airspeed was. At the high density altitude at Rifle a ground speed of 92 kt would have been equivalent to an indicated airspeed of less than 80 kt.

Pilot 52
article thumbnail

What NTSB Reports Say About Impossible Turns and Angle of Attack

Air Facts

To get the extra lift required for the turns, I had to dive to get extra airspeed so that the plane could turn at that same AOA. I think that currently, the most improvable aspects of general aviation safety likely will include improving basic flying skills including rudder usage and stall and slow flight well beyond ACS standards.