Slow Down

FROM THE COCKPIT

Bill Lavender bill@agairupdate.com

Statistically, the 2020 season started off with a relatively a low number of fatality accidents in the U.S. Now, as of the end of June, the industry has had three fatalities and no less than one very serious accident. In the early beginning of this year’s season, an ag-pilot in Texas flew into the sun blinding him before hitting a tree. The aircraft crashed and the pilot lost his life. To add to the tragedy, the pilot survived for a few days before succumbing to his burn injuries.

The second fatality occurred in Alabama. It seems that this particular accident was also completely avoidable, as was the one flying into the sun in Texas. First, I must offer a disclaimer that I have not spoken with the family or eye witnesses to the accident. However, I trust my sources enough to comment on this accident. The pilot had completed the application and was returning to the airstrip when he made the fatal decision to conduct a low level fly-by with an abrupt pull up at the end. My understanding is the pilot was highly experienced with 10s of thousands of hours. The result of the pull up was a stall/spin into the ground in front of loved ones.

Why does this continue to happen? I can’t pass judgment, as like every ag-pilot I know at one time or another has made the impressive fly-by with a radical turn around at the end. You feel good after completing a successful application, the plane is flying great and you believe you are at the top of your game. We all know these feelings. It is the absolute worst time to demonstrate your excellent flying abilities that for this pilot were not good enough. He didn’t have to die.

The third, and hopefully the last fatality of the season, was for a North Carolina helicopter pilot when his R66 turbine helicopter encountered powerlines. If an ag-pilot has flown enough years and hours, sooner or later, he flies into a wire. Often, it is survivable, but too often it is not. Wires can be tricky; hard to see or even harder to judge their height and position. I once had an operator that I was helping catch up tell me, “Fly the field as well as the farmer planted it.” Simple, but truthful words. If the farmer insists on planting under and around power lines, then he needs to accept the application won’t be the best. An applicator needs to give powerlines a wide breadth breadth.

Although an Arkansas pilot survived a crash in June, his aircraft became a ball of aluminum. I’m told he was cut out of the plane and “walked away”. I don’t know the extent of his injuries, but from my own experience, I know his shoulder harness and lap belt induced severe bruising. And, I’m confident his helmet played a major role in his survival. There is a lot of inertia in an ag-plane traveling well over 100 MPH in any configuration. When it comes to an abrupt halt, so do all the internal organs of the pilot, along with straps pressing hard against the body to almost the degree of an impact into the cockpit components.

Our industry has the best possible survival equipment for the job we do; shoulder harnesses, extra wide seat belts, roll cage cockpits capable of withstanding high G loads, break away cockpit doors and in some aircraft airbag seat belts. But, an aircraft can only do so much to save your life. It is important you enhance these features with first and foremost a helmet, Nomex clothing and a sense of professionalism that puts safety first. I know protective clothing is hot, heavy and burdensome, but a fire is hotter and the dashboard slammed into your face is much more burdensome than a helmet.

In almost all cases, survivability in ag-flying falls upon the pilot. Sure, there are instances where an accident occurs that is completely out of the pilot’s control; no matter what he does his fate is sealed. This is where dependence on the plane’s safety features help, but are not guaranteed. Usually, this happens due to a mechanical issue, or weather. Even with weather, the pilot is still in control to a great degree with his decision abilities. And, the same could be said about the airworthiness of the aircraft. Junk ag-planes will hurt you.

I’ll get off my soap box. I know you hear about safety every day you fly and even days you don’t. Caution warnings are worth repeating. Safety should be your mantra and obsession. Safety does not come for free. The safety equipment cost and to be safe takes time. However, if you are in this game for the long haul, safety will always be less expensive than the alternatives. Slow down, be safe and live.

In closing, all of us at AgAir Update extend our sincerest condolences to the grieving families of those pilots lost this year and all the years before 2020, along with hoping for a speedy recovery for the pilot “that walked away”. My comments about these four accidents in no way was judgmental of the pilots. Instead, I’m hoping their ill-fate will somehow help other ag-pilots avoid the same.