Secure Flight Controls for Safety

designrs · Post by **designrs** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:25 pm

Another news story about an unintended pilot (5-year old suspected as cause of helicopter crash):

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/11/5- ... latestnews

Keep those children, animals, and other non-pilots away from the flight controls.
I particularly like the independent adjustable rudder pedals on the SportCruiser & PiperSports
which can be moved away from the passenger. Great for added safety and comfort.

Other thoughts and suggestions on how to secure flight controls for safety?

zaitcev · Post by **zaitcev** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:28 pm

I took a ride in Bell 47 once where the cyclic was removed altogether, in case. Possibly the pedals too, I do not remember.

designrs · Post by **designrs** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:54 pm

Yeah, I was up in a Robinson R44 once where flight controls were removed.
Heli's seem to be more adaptable that way.
Perhaps because inadvertent control input is much harder to correct?

It would be good to hear about what can be done as precautions in Light Sport
to safeguard flight controls from non-pilots.

drseti · Post by **drseti** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:53 pm

designrs wrote:It would be good to hear about what can be done as precautions in Light Sport
to safeguard flight controls from non-pilots.

I'm often inclined to put them in the back seat.

(All jest aside, I often take non-pilots up for discovery flights, and prospective students for introductory lessons. Part of the preflight briefing is a very detailed discussion of positive transfer of control. That subject deserves a thread of its own, which I will start when I have some time.)

designrs · Post by **designrs** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:42 pm

Paul, do you have that divider installed in your SportStar to keep feet from accidentally wandering to the wrong rudder pedal?

drseti · Post by **drseti** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 3:22 pm

I bought the kit, Richard, but have yet to install it. I hesitate to take the plane out of service for several days, when I have renters flying it regularly. That will probably be a good job for when I'm snowed into the hangar!

David · Post by **David** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:23 pm

drseti wrote:I bought the kit, Richard, but have yet to install it. I hesitate to take the plane out of service for several days, when I have renters flying it regularly. That will probably be a good job for when I'm snowed into the hangar!

Paul you will have to wait since I am holding out for no snow this year in PA (LOL)

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Secure Flight Controls for Safety

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