Oil Leaks From Aftermarket Oil Filter Adapters Have Led To At Least 11 GA Accidents

The NTSB says that oil leaks from aftermarket oil filter adapters have led to at least 11 general aviation accidents since 2004. The NTSB called on the FAA to issue an AD to address an unsafe condition associated with oil filter adapters installed through a STC on Continental engines. Oil leaks from these oil filter adapters can lead to a loss of engine power if not properly installed or maintained. After uncovering the safety issue during its investigation of two crashes in 2019, the NTSB identified nine other accidents between 2004 and 2018 in which airplanes equipped with these adapters had a loss of engine power. These accidents resulted in three fatalities and

Also: Winter B-29 Maintenance, Tamarack Expands, Intelsat, Flyaway FlightPlan Site

Textron Aviation is launching the Beechcraft King Air 260 turboprop. Assembly production for the King Air 260 is already underway! Certification and deliveries are expected in early 2021. The announcement comes on the heels of the recently introduced Beechcraft King Air 360. The King Air 360 achieved FAA type certification in October, and customer deliveries are underway. The King Air 260's key enhancements are the addition of the IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle, along with a new digital pressurization controller. The c

Liftoff is Now Targeted For 1117ET

ANN Realtime Update, 0723ET, 120520: SpaceX has confirmed that, "Due to poor weather in the recovery area for today’s attempt, now targeting Sunday, December 6 at 11:17 a.m. EST for launch of CRS-21." SpaceX will launch from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 11:17 a.m. EST, or 16:17 UTC. Dragon will separate from Falcon 9’s second stage about eleven minutes after liftoff and autonomously dock to the space station on Monday, December 7.

Enhancement Reduces Pilot Workload By Automatically Managing Engine Power

Textron Aviation have received STC approval of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense Autothrottle on Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft including new production Beechcraft King Air 260 turboprops. STC approval on Pro Line 21-equipped Beechcraft King Air 300 series aircraft is anticipated soon. These STCs are in addition to the approvals of the autothrottle on the Beechcraft King Air 200 series equipped with Pro Line 21 avionics, the Beechcraft King Air 300 series equipped with Pro Line Fusion avionics and new production Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprops, announced in August 2020.

Finalizes The Certification Of The S-64F and CH-54B

Erickson Incorporated has announced final FAA certification for the composite main rotor blades on the S-64F and CH-54B. Earlier this year, Erickson announced FAA approval of the S-64E model. This recent announcement finalizes the certification of the S-64F and CH-54B, solidifying FAA certification for the entire fleet of S-64 Air Crane E & F models, as well as the CH-54 Skycrane A & B models. The advanced design of the blades provides a significant performance advantage, especially at hot and high conditions.

The First National Collegiate Parachuting Championships Took Place In 1958

With regret, Skydive Arizona in Eloy, host of the 2020 USPA National Collegiate Skydiving Championships, has submitted a request to the US Parachute Association to cancel the competition due to significant concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic among military academies and civilian competitors. This request was unanimously approved by both the USPA Competition Committee and the USPA Executive Committee.  Skydive Arizona did everything in its power to host the competition—the longest running skydiving competition in the world—but with students from the military academies and other schools unable to attend, even a scaled-down version of the event simply

From 2017: Airplane Upgraded With 912iS Engine And More

Van's Aircraft has made several upgrades to its popular RV 12 model, starting forward of the firewall and continuing through much of the airplane. The most obvious of the changes is the installation of the Rotax 912iS engine. The new engine produces more torque which improves the climb rate and cruise. But Rian Johnson, Chief Engineer for Van's Aircraft, told ANN editor Tom Patton that the company has been listening to its customers for the past eight years, and put together a list of upgrades to make a better airplane.

Vertical Flight Solutions by EuroTec STCs True Blue Power

Vertical Flight Solutions (VFS) by EuroTec has received Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) approval for the installation of the ultralightweight True Blue Power TB17 lithium-ion main ship battery on Airbus H125/AS350 Series helicopters. The battery integration requires no structural work and includes an NVIS-compatible cockpit annunciator. Additional approvals, including FAA and EASA, are expected to follow. "Lithium-ion technology is the next generation of aircraft batteries," said Adam Boyko, Avionics Manager for EuroTec. "As aircraft technology and avionics advance, we are pleased to offer a main ship battery solution that follows suit. The popular Airbus H125/AS350 helicopter was th

Family Devices Already Consists Of The AL172 (C172), AL40 and AL42 (DA40 and DA42)

ALSIM has expanded its range of products with the launch of their brand new ALSR20, a replica of the SR20 aircraft. The device reproduces the latest SR20 specific interior cockpit and flight deck including a real GDU 1050A and GFC 700 Autopilot. The ALSR20 is further equipped with a GMA 350C - All digital Audio Panel and a GCU 479 and can simulate the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), designed by BRS.

Pilot Noticed A Slight Yaw To The Right That Continued Despite Full Left Pedal Application

On November 6, 2020, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, an Agusta A109S helicopter, N109EX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the University of Southern California (USC) Keck Medical Center (USC Keck), Los Angeles, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the two passengers were uninjured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 Helicopter air ambulance flight. The pilot reported that he established the helicopter in a steep approach, to land on the rooftop helipad of a multi-story medical building. The pilot had offset his heading to the left to gain greater visibility to the la

Aero Linx: British Model Flying Association The BMFA is the National Governing Body for the sport of model flying. Its aims are to promote, protect, organise and encourage model flying within the UK. (see the Articles of Association)Typically there are around 780 affiliated clubs and a combined membership of over 36,000 members, all of whom have entered a partnership to ensure that model fliers have a voice and their rights are recognised by the authorities. The mandate for the BMFA to do this comes from the Royal Aero Club, dating back to 1922, the Civil Aviation Authority and the UK Sports councils. The BMFA also represents the UK in the international forum through its recognition by the Federation

Flight Management Systems A computer system that uses a large data base to allow routes to be preprogrammed and fed into the system by means of a data loader. The system is constantly updated with respect to position accuracy by reference to conventional navigation aids. The sophisticated program and its associated data base ensures that the most appropriate aids are automatically selected during the information update cycle.

"The NTSB called on the FAA to issue an AD to address an unsafe condition associated with oil filter adapters installed through a STC on Continental engines. Oil leaks from these oil filter adapters can lead to a loss of engine power if not properly installed or maintained. After uncovering the safety issue during its investigation of two crashes in 2019, the NTSB identified nine other accidents between 2004 and 2018 in which airplanes equipped with these adapters had a loss of engine power. These accidents resulted in three fatalities and five serious injuries." Source: From an NTSB report published to bring attention to a critical GA safety issue, and to urge FAA action.