TUNNEL VISION: Lack of Focus and Miscommunication Leads to Mishaps
BY LT KATRINA NIETSCH
A
s pilots, we are all trained to know that attention to detail is critical. However, balancing the details with the big picture is often where situational awareness can be lost. One such incident occurred while I was the pilot performing preflight checks prior to departing for a CVN logistics mission. We were 45 minutes past our scheduled takeoff time and still had to pick up passengers from the air terminal. We had just 10 minutes to spare to make our scheduled overhead time. This delay contributed to a multitude of issues, including one of the aircraft becoming unavailable due to maintenance issues, ultimately requiring me to rebrief with a new crew. After starting the starboard engine, the plane captain (PC)—who was under instruction—called for the 22
main entrance hatch (MEH) on the port side of the aircraft to be secured. I gave him the thumbs up and continued with my checks. I cleared the port side of the aircraft, ensuring that we were chocked, that the fire bottle manned, the MEH secured, and the prop arc clear. I called for the start of the port engine with the concurrence of the aircraft commander. I did not see anyone in or around the MEH. I signaled for the start of the port engine and then started the engine after seeing the PC’s signal to start the port engine. With everyone’s concurrence, I began the start sequence, and I looked in my mirror to check that the propeller began to rotate. Suddenly, I noticed a cranial in my mirror and immediately secured the engine. I realized that the MEH was not closed and the Approach
