Sun May 29, 2016 10:31 pm
#1458752
After my last flight I begin to question whether I really should allow myself to continue flying.
I'm going to break this down into the holes I was trying to align....
1. Due to time requirements at my destination airfield I elected to refuel on the return journey. My calculations (which now have to be questioned) determined that strictly speaking we would not require fuel but I prefer to have a reasonable amount left in the tank when the aircraft is returned to the airfield.
2. A technical issue (eventually confirmed as a non-issue) discovered at the end of the outbound flight resulted in me failing to complete my normal shut-down process properly and I left the battery master switch on (I even returned to the aircraft to collect my wallet and still didn't notice this)
3. On returning to the aircraft for the return flight I performed basic checks to find that there was a securing missing on the engine inspection flap so I was diverted from my normal activities while I checked that the remaining securing would be sufficient.
4. Once into the cockpit I realised the master switch was still on and despite my hopes ,the battery had insufficient charge to swing the prop - so I needed assistance of airfield personnel to start the aircraft. This caused a delay to our departure and I had been warned by the airfield operator that I needed to depart by a certain time due to other events that were going on.
5. Despite undertaking a visual check of the tanks I really did not register the low fuel state for the return flight. I had even informed my passenger before the commencement of the first flight that I may need to divert for fuel either on the outbound or return flight. However I was so focussed on the battery issue and a desire to not require further assistance with starting that I elected to continue to my destination.
6. On returning to my home airfield, the runway was occupied with a tractor. I was so focussed on what I was going to do if he did not vacate the runway in time that I failed to complete my landing checks properly.
Fortunately - the tractor did vacate
Fortunately - I didn't need to go around
Fortunately - the failure to complete the landing checks properly didn't result in other problems.
Fortunately - there was enough fuel left in the tanks for about 15 mins flight
Fortunately - I'm still here
I now understand how pilot's who are normally very careful in their preparation and intentions can bit by bit manage to line up the holes in that cheese. I hope I can stop it happening another time, but it does make me question my decision making capability.
I'm going to break this down into the holes I was trying to align....
1. Due to time requirements at my destination airfield I elected to refuel on the return journey. My calculations (which now have to be questioned) determined that strictly speaking we would not require fuel but I prefer to have a reasonable amount left in the tank when the aircraft is returned to the airfield.
2. A technical issue (eventually confirmed as a non-issue) discovered at the end of the outbound flight resulted in me failing to complete my normal shut-down process properly and I left the battery master switch on (I even returned to the aircraft to collect my wallet and still didn't notice this)
3. On returning to the aircraft for the return flight I performed basic checks to find that there was a securing missing on the engine inspection flap so I was diverted from my normal activities while I checked that the remaining securing would be sufficient.
4. Once into the cockpit I realised the master switch was still on and despite my hopes ,the battery had insufficient charge to swing the prop - so I needed assistance of airfield personnel to start the aircraft. This caused a delay to our departure and I had been warned by the airfield operator that I needed to depart by a certain time due to other events that were going on.
5. Despite undertaking a visual check of the tanks I really did not register the low fuel state for the return flight. I had even informed my passenger before the commencement of the first flight that I may need to divert for fuel either on the outbound or return flight. However I was so focussed on the battery issue and a desire to not require further assistance with starting that I elected to continue to my destination.
6. On returning to my home airfield, the runway was occupied with a tractor. I was so focussed on what I was going to do if he did not vacate the runway in time that I failed to complete my landing checks properly.
Fortunately - the tractor did vacate
Fortunately - I didn't need to go around
Fortunately - the failure to complete the landing checks properly didn't result in other problems.
Fortunately - there was enough fuel left in the tanks for about 15 mins flight
Fortunately - I'm still here
I now understand how pilot's who are normally very careful in their preparation and intentions can bit by bit manage to line up the holes in that cheese. I hope I can stop it happening another time, but it does make me question my decision making capability.