Focus On Seat Restraints, ELTs, Carb Ice, Securing Cargo, And Self-Locking Nuts

As the year drew to a close, the NTSB issued five new Safety Alerts that provide general aviation (GA) pilots with mitigating strategies for preventing accidents. These Safety Alerts follow five that were issued in March at a Board Meeting that focused on the most frequent types of general aviation accidents.

"Knowing these accidents, which sometimes include entire families, can be prevented is why 'General Aviation Safety' is on our Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "At a time when many people are putting together their list of resolutions for the coming year, these five Safety Alerts remind pilots, mechanics and passengers of basic safety precautions to add to their checklists to ensure a safe flight for all on board."

The five new Safety Alerts are:

• Check Your Restraints
• Engine Power Loss Due to Carburetor Icing
• "Armed" for Safety: Emergency Locator Transmitters
• All Secure, All Clear (securing items in the aircraft cabin)
• Proper Use of Fiber or Nylon Self-Locking Nuts

A Safety Alert is a brief information sheet that pinpoints a particular safety hazard and offers practical remedies to address the issue. The NTSB says that each year, about 475 pilots and passengers are killed and hundreds more are seriously injured in GA accidents in the United States. The board has issued 30 such Safety Alerts since 2004.

FMI: http://go.usa.gov/2BeA