Confidence in ATSB reports

[Thruster88]

After nearly two years the Middle island 172 accident report is out, a good report that pilots can learn from.

 

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2017/aair/ao-2017-005/

 

In the SAFETY ANALYSIS section at the bottom of  "Significant turn at low height after engine power loss" it says 

 

If the pilot had selected some or full flap prior to or during the left turn, he would have been able to extend his glide distance further and reduce the aircraft’s stall speed, and potentially the aircraft’s speed at impact.[

 

Now it might be knit picking but every pilot would know that the first part of that sentence about glide distance is wrong. 

 

 

[djpacro]

"If the pilot had selected some or full flap prior to or during the left turn, he would have been able to extend his glide distance further and reduce the aircraft’s stall speed, and potentially the aircraft’s speed at impact."

 

He is not saying that the glide angle is better with flaps down.

 

"However, given the location of the aircraft when he commenced the left turn, and the nature of the surrounding terrain, it is very unlikely that a collision with terrain could have been avoided."

 

So extending the glide is insignificant compared to stalling and hitting the ground hard.

 

"The aircraft was at about 60 ft (see GPS information) and had a groundspeed of about 124 kt (about 230 km/h)." .... "If full flap had been selected, the stall speeds would have been reduced by about 10 mph (9 kt) for the same bank angle." ... "Given the stall warning was intermittently sounding for the last 7 seconds, and the indicated airspeed decreased from 65 kt to 60 kt, it is very likely that the aircraft was close to the stall speed during this period. In the last 1–2 seconds, as the bank angle increased to about 60° and the indicated airspeed was about 60 kt, the aircraft may have entered the stall. The pilot’s use of left rudder in this period increased the potential to stall."

 

"All of the options were likely to result in at least some level of damage and/or injury. However, with the benefit of hindsight and a detailed consideration of all the available information, the option likely to result in the least damage or injury was to land the aircraft ahead on the remainder of the beach (heading north)." Hindsight is for us to learn from.

 

"Regardless of whether the aircraft stalled, the aircraft impacted terrain with little or no control and a significant descent rate." That is the thing to avoid.

 

Interesting that camera and camera memory disappeared.

 

 

[KRviator]

Interesting that camera and camera memory disappeared.

 

Not when you consider who was flying the following aircraft and what was at stake given the previous Youtube videos posted of this outfit...

 

 

[facthunter]

I couldn't find any reference to the actual wind velocity and the intended  landing headwind component.. Losing control is never conducive to  a good outcome. Never ever.. . I wouldn't see a downwind ditching in a 172 as a good idea. They usually don't ditch well in any case. As to the flap advice. Yes you will reduce the stall speed with flap extended and if you did it at precisely the right time could also reduce your ROD/ touch down speed. Applied earlier in the turn  would mean extra drag and you would not go as far. Nev