First passenger nerves.

by **CaptCrispy** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:57 am

Not a problem as such but something for us new pilots to think about.

I had my first passenger recently and after engine start I noticed a banging sound, never heard before. The ground was wet grass and mud so I assumed it was bits of crap being pushed up.

Doing power checks it was worse so I had the embarrassing moment where I had to shut down surrounded by other aircraft doing power checks and waiting to enter the runway.

A quick investigation found that part of the passengers seat belt was locked outside their door, a simple fix before continuing.

I don't think my passenger was put off or scared, I saw no specific change in behaviour, though I am sure others may well have been terrified of the pilot having to stop the engine and get out.

What did I learn? When helping the passenger with their belt, do it from OUTSIDE the aircraft where you can see everything.

by **davidair** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:10 am

this happened to me as a passenger once, but it wasn't noticed until after takeoff and in crosswind. sent shockwaves down my pilot's and my back... was a C152, so opening the door and pulling the belt back in was no problem, fortunately...

by **Irv Lee** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:12 am

Cessna?
Good to get it over with so early in your flying life, you will always check that now and also recognise it instantly if you hear it.

by **CaptCrispy** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:20 am

Yep, 152 and yes, ingrained in the grey matter for life!

by **Irv Lee** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:22 am

CaptCrispy wrote:Yep, 152 and yes, ingrained in the grey matter for life!

It's one of those things that you make sure only happen once in your life - like trapping "yourself" in a zip fastener ;-)

ps: On reflection of the statement above, I don't actually mean 'only happen once', I mean 'happen never more than once' - "never" is even better!

by **CaptCrispy** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:32 pm

Perhaps I am doomed, I don't trap 'myself' in a zipper regularly - but it's certainly happended more than once :oops:

by **Irv Lee** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:20 pm

CaptCrispy wrote:Perhaps I am doomed, I don't trap 'myself' in a zipper regularly - but it's certainly happended more than once

Blimey, I'm amazed, having done it once, I am absolutely 100% sure that I will never do that again! (not, you understand, because of accidental amputation, the zip wasn't that strong, but merely a level of pain that I don't want to experience again seems to have concentrated my mind somewhat)

by **CaptCrispy** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:40 pm

After thinking about this, I believe the last time was over 20 years ago as a very young and extremely drunk 20 something lad about town - so perhaps I have learnt my lesson ...

Don't drink and operate trouser zippers! Or only wear button trousers/jeans

by **Irv Lee** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:46 pm

I can't believe we haven't heard from Timothy, he must be busy on another thread. If you will allow me to impersonate him, I think he'll actually appreciate me saving him time and thank me:
[Timothy]
"This used to happen to me all the time, then the girls told me to stop wearing zipped ankle boots, and I've never had the problem since"
[/Timothy]

by **CaptCrispy** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:13 pm

And (Timothy sounds) modest with it

by **Gertie** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:23 pm

CaptCrispy wrote:A quick investigation found that part of the passengers seat belt was locked outside their door, a simple fix before continuing.

Stock issue in a 152. It's even explicitly described in the book I got whilst training - the Cessna Pilot Centre Manual of Flight.

In my case it didn't start banging until the take-off roll. Stopped on the runway, sorted it out, took off (so many years ago that I don't now recall whether I backtracked or just used what was left of the 2km tarmac runway).

by **Timothy** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 4:39 pm

Sorry not to have picked up on that, Irv.

You have missed the most painful aspect, though, which is to shut yourself in the door and be banging around in flight. You don't do that twice.

by **cotterpot** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:40 pm

What did I learn? When helping the passenger with their belt, do it from OUTSIDE the aircraft where you can see everything.

Might be a bit of a problem getting back in if you fly a PA28

First passenger nerves.

First passenger nerves.

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