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Government Industry

Call For Grounding

Air Safety Week, August 15, 2005

In an unusual bipartisan action, all four of Colorado's congressmen and one senator have sent letters to the FAA administrator asking that the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2 series of aircraft be grounded and a thorough investigation be conducted into the flying characteristics of the aircraft and what the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) refers to in accident reports as "loss of power for undetermined reasons."

The letters were sent just a few days before another MU-2 of Flight Line crashed on approach to Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo. (see ASW, Aug. 8). The letters were triggered by another crash of a Flight Line MU-2 on Dec. 10, 2004.

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The letters vary slightly, but Rep. Tom Tancredo's (R-Colo.) is typical, calling for "immediate grounding".

On Aug. 10, Nicholas Sabatini, the associate administrator for aviation safety, responded on FAA Administrator Marion Blakey's behalf, saying:

"The recent increase in the accident rate for the MU-2 airplane warrants further evaluation by the [FAA]. The FAA has already begun an aggressive effort to reevaluate this issue with consideration of all the concerns you and other members of the Colorado congressional delegation have raised. We will determine the appropriate actions to take on the MU-2, up to and including grounding, should information on the probable cause of these accidents warrant."

'I Am Requesting That The Aircraft Be Grounded'

Letter of Rep. Tancredo to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey (extracts):

Dear Madame Administrator:

I am writing to ask for your immediate action in grounding Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' (MHI) MU-2B series aircraft. I feel this action is warranted due to the aircraft's abysmal flight safety record.

This matter was recently brought to my attention by my constituents, Jim and Linda Presba. Their son and another pilot were killed while flying an MU-2B out of Centennial Airport near Denver on December 10, 2004. They apparently lost an engine shortly after takeoff and were unable to maintain aircraft control (the investigation is still pending). ?

In perusing the NTSB website, I noted that the MU-2 (known as the "Kill You 2" in pilot circles) has been involved in 187 accidents since 1962 (NTSB printout enclosed) ? 238 people have died in 74 different fatal accidents. In addition to the Centennial crash, there were six other MU-2B accidents in 2004 (4 fatalities) and on May 24, 2005, another crash claimed four more lives in Oregon (the pilot had 17,000 flight hours!). ?

Back in October, 1997, the FAA put forth an airworthiness directive (AD 97-20-14) stating that current training levels of pilots of the MU-2B made it difficult for them to recognize adverse operating conditions. While this AD related more specifically with flying in icing conditions, the same difficulty applies to loss of performance situations. The AD recommended additional pilot training. It should be noted that after the Centennial crash, MHI became worried that pilots were not being adequately trained to fly this aircraft. According to Ralph Sorrels, a deputy manager for MHI's product support division, the company is "deeply concerned" and recommends that MU-2 pilots get "specialized training in flight simulators so they can test emergency conditions and procedures in a safe environment."

Unfortunately, I do not believe this action goes far enough. I am requesting that the aircraft be grounded until a thorough review of all MU-2 accidents is made. Special emphasis should be paid to the relationship of engines problems to incidents/accidents. Additionally, it is my firm conviction that a special MU-2 series "type rating" be established. This pilot certification must be completed before any pilot is allowed to resume MU-2 flight operations. ?

Thank you for your prompt attention to this letter ? lives are at stake.

Very respectfully,

Tom Tancredo, Member of Congress

Government Industry

Call For Grounding

Air Safety Week, August 15, 2005

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