Flight Safety Detectives

Episode 60 John and Greg are giving meticulous attention to information available on the recent United Airlines engine explosion. In this episode they share their initial expert observations and predict what’s next. Learn what the evidence so far really shows from two of the world’s most experienced accident investigators. They explain why the crew and air traffic control personnel who handled the...

Episode 59 John and Greg talk about special considerations for pilots who rent airplanes. They share anecdotes of incidents where pilots in rented aircraft ran into safety issues. Part of the in-depth discussion is advice for pilots: Don’t assume anything when renting a plane. Check maintenance records and do a thorough preflight every time. They encourage pilots who encounter issues with rentals...

Episode 58 John and Greg catch listeners up with some major aviation news. Findings are being shared from the Kobe Bryant crash investigation. The 737-500 crash in Indonesia may be the result of a known issue. Piper single engine aircraft now have an airworthiness directive to be addressed along with two service bulletins. Kobe Bryant Crash The NTSB Sunshine Hearing about the 2020 Calabasas helico...

Episode 57 The FAA’s role in flight safety has evolved over the years. This episode covers the Safety Management System (SMS), the potential expansion into charter aviation, and the value of building a safety culture in all types of aviation. Aspects of FAA operations – past, present and future – are discussed. The episode continues a conversation with John Allen, Manager at Allen and Associates C...

Episode 56 The FAA has taken a hit following high-profile crashes of the 737 Max. Investigators and congressional hearings have laid the blame on the FAA aircraft certification process and its too-close relationship with Boeing. Will the agency be able to restore its reputation? Guest is John Allen , Manager at Allen and Associates Consulting, LLC. His resume includes service in the US military as...

Episode 55 Is complacency seeping into all areas of aviation? From pilots doing casual preflights to the NTSB’s continued refusal to do on-site investigations for most aviation accidents, John and Greg have safety concerns at all levels. The safety culture of aviation is stagnating. The findings of the Rand Report – written more than 20 years ago – have not been implemented. It outlines issues wit...

Episode 54 Light Sport Aircraft are the focus of this discussion. Changes to FAA rules and regulations now under review could result in a major loosening of safety rules for affected planes. The FAA is proposing to change the rules and regulations related to LSAs, allowing aircraft in the category to be larger and more complex. John, Greg and expert Jason Lukasik explore implications for flight sa...

Episode 53 The NTSB investigation of the tragic 2006 crash of a single-engine Cessna 206 was attributed to pilot error. Although evidence has surfaced that questions that conclusion, the findings have not been changed and appeals have been denied. Guests for this episode are Yatish Joshi, pilot Georgina Joshi’s father and an experienced pilot, and his wife Joan. They tell the story of their journe...

Episode 52 More than 430 lives have been saved by the BRS Whole Aircraft Rescue Parachute System. John and Greg welcome BRS Managing Director and President Enrique Dillon to get all the details about the system. BRS invented the Whole Aircraft Rescue Parachute System in 1980. Since then, the system has been installed on more than 35,000 aircraft. It is a safety option that can be installed on virt...

Episode 51 Experienced pilot Bob Jenkins joins Greg and John for this look at piloting challenges in business and charter aviation. COVID-19 is leading to increased interest in these flight options as a way to avoid the crowds of commercial aviation. Pilots face demands of both aircraft and flight readiness. Pilots must be prepared to make flight safety decisions, even when they are unpopular with...

Guest Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants and former FAA inspector, walks John and Greg through the recent Airworthiness Directive related to PA 28 Series planes. Jason shares his firsthand experience encountering dramatic corrosion on Piper wing spars. Don’t miss what’s to come from the Flight Safety Detectives - subscribe to the  Flight Safety Detectives YouTube channel , l...

Episode 49 Special guest is Dr Chuck Dennison , forensic and aviation psychologist, who specializes in neuropsychological evaluations for the FAA. He talks about how he tests cognitive function to ensure pilots have the mental acuity to fly safely. Greg and John explore the many conditions that can trigger the need for assessment such as head injury, substance abuse issues, and conditions such as...

John and Greg kick off this episode with a new segment – WTF. They talk about several recent accident reports that identify unbelievable neglect of basic safety procedures. “Stupid or not stupid, all these accidents take a toll on investigators and the people left behind,” John comments. The detectives plan future WTF segments to highlight the things that can and will happen when safety procedures...

Episode 47 Jump in for a deep dive into emergency response in aviation. All sectors of the industry need to plan and prepare for emergency scenarios like crashes and much more. Special guest is Mark Dombroff, partner in the Northern Virginia office of Fox Rothschild and co-chair of the firm’s aviation practice. The conversation covers what goes into an effective emergency response and the importan...

Episode 46 Prop strikes are pretty common. Even seemingly minor nicks and gouges can lead to major safety issues. John and Greg focus on propellers as the “ugly stepsisters” of aircraft maintenance. They dive into an accident involving a LancAir 4P caused when a damaged prop lead to engine failure. In his years of service as a mechanic, John has seen plenty of engine damage caused by prop strikes....

Episode 45 Weather caused Flight 4182 to be in a holding pattern to land on October 31, 1994. Weather also triggered a fateful series of events that led to the loss of the aircraft and 68 lives. John and Greg offer a minute by minute analysis of the cockpit voice recorder. They believe this was the event that woke the industry up to the effects of icing on aircraft. The NTSB accident report focuse...

Episode 44 This episode starts when Greg got the call about the tragic crash of American Eagle Flight 4184. He walks through the first week of responding to the accident scene as the NTSB Investigator in Charge. Insights: First crash site where NTSB biohazard protocols were applied How “why” questions lead to thorough on-scene information gathering Roles of the various teams and parties involved i...

Episode 43 The NTSB is still not doing onsite accident investigations...A pilot landing in Colorado decides to ignore the rules...Long-term health impacts of COVID could impact pilots, mechanics and flight attendants...Greg and John focus on these topics in their latest episode. A recent accident in Buffalo prompted two senators to write a letter to the NTSB asking for an onsite investigation. The...

Episode 42 The NTSB is considered a non-essential service and on-site accident investigations have been suspended during COVID-19. With no one on site to gather facts and evidence, John and Greg ask if the NTSB is needed anymore. Even before the pandemic, the agency had an increasing case backlog. Reports that have been issued recently are incomplete and offer scant safety insight. John and Greg f...

Greg and John examine the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder from American Flight 1420, a MD-80 that crashed at Little Rock Airport in 1999. Greg served as the NTSB investigator in charge (IIC) and John was part of the headquarters support team. The 30-min recording reveals the pilots were racing the weather as well as fatigue from a long workday. John and Greg walk through the conversation...

Episode 40 Assumptions and expectations in all roles in aviation often lead to the most serious accidents. John and Greg share anecdotes that illustrate the point. This is a trying time for air travel and air safety. Greg and John are frustrated by the growing number of accidents that are not being investigated by either the NTSB or FAA. They wonder out loud why investigators, who have ample bioha...

Episode 39 John and Greg often make the point that flight safety involves both hangar and cockpit. This episode illustrates the point. They walk through an accident involving a Cessna 177 Cardinal. The plane was in for annual maintenance. Although the mechanic had signed off in the logbook, the final run up was not completed before the pilot retrieved the plane. The plane crashed shortly after tak...

Episode 38 When a Piper Aerostar collided in mid-air with a Bell 412 helicopter over an elementary school in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, in 1991 Greg Feith was among the first investigators on the scene. Greg and John revisit the investigation to highlight NTSB findings that are relevant for pilots today. The accident started the NTSB discussion and definition of aeronautical decision mak...

Episode 37 The cockpit voice recorder is called the “electronic witness” by crash investigators. In this episode, John and Greg walk through the CVR recovered during the investigation of ValuJet Flight 592 that crashed in the Everglades. The CVR captures conversations. It also documents ambient noises that offer clues, especially when aligned with information from the flight data recorder. Greg an...

Episode 36 A panel discussion from the campus of Vaughn College explores many aspects of a successful career in aviation. From formal education to soft skills, Greg, John and their guests explore the factors that lead to success. Students discuss their plans and the options they are exploring to start their careers. Also featured are professor Capt. Emerson Allen, experienced pilot Capt. Chinar Sh...