Quickstoppers

While in the local pattern on a visual approach in a four engine transport aircraft, the crew noticed something a little strange off their right wing. A seagull was maintaining what appeared to be a fairly tight fingertip formation. Unfortunately the seagull's ego got the better of him and he tucked in just a little too tight. While trying to assume the lead, he ended up getting sucked into the number three engine. Damage to the engine was significant, but not quite as bad as the damage sustained by the seagull.

Reprinted from MAC Flyer, May 1985

Fickle Fingers

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It was simply a routine engine running offload for the C-130 crew. After Landing Checklist was initiated and called "complete," the loadmaster grasped the crew entrance door lanyard and unlocked the handle. The door abruptly opened with such force the lanyard held in the loadmaster's right hand was pulled away breaking his ring and little fingers. The cause for the door opening with such unexpected force was a single missed checklist item: the engineer had been distracted when the air turbine motor would not come on line and neglected to fully depressurize the aircraft.

Reprinted from MAC Flyer, Sept 1986

Emergency Ground Egress-Practice May Prevent Injuries

A Lockheed L-1011 performed a rejected takeoff in Honolulu. After the aircraft came to a stop, a wheel/brake fire occurred in the left main land gear, and an evacuation was initiated. Of the airplanes eight floor-level exits, two did not function properly and could not be used. In addition, two of the remaining exits were not used because of the fire on the left side of the airplane.

Using the remaining 4 operational slides, 296 passengers and 13 crewmembers evacuated. One passenger sustained a serious injury, and 56 passengers and 2 flight attendants sustained minor injuries during the evacuation. If you carry pats, have a plan for emergency ground egress and practice your plan with your crew, before you need to do it for real.

NTSB Report; Nov 1999.