Role of Pilot Lack of Manual Control Proficiency in Air Transport Aircraft Accidents

Abstract

This study is a review of three investigations of fatal air transport aircraft accidents and two reports of near fatal air transport aircraft incidents. All of the accident and incident reports reviewed found that the Air Transport rated pilots who caused the accidents and incidents were deficient in manual flightpath control skills. The study identified the following areas of manual flightpath control skill deficiencies: stall recovery, recovery from unusual attitudes, flightpath control for visual landing approaches, and rudder control during engine failure. Recommendations for training and checking procedures to address these skill deficiencies are proposed. Training recommendations include: exposure to novel, unexpected stalls and unusual attitudes, sudden failure of auto flight systems during critical phases of flight, and increased practice of rudder control techniques during engine failures. Checking procedures should be modified to include closer evaluation of .all manual flightpath control skills.