Flying... After a crash..

Tram

Tram

Well-Known Member
Just curious how many of you have walked away from a crash and gotten back in the saddle and had "trust" issues with airplanes?

If so, how long did the "trust issues" last for you?
 
I've never bent metal, but I have had serious failures that resulted in loss of trust in that aircraft. I still get I get uneasy flying pistons in IMC.
 
Tram said:
Just curious how many of you have walked away from a crash and gotten back in the saddle and had "trust" issues with airplanes?

If so, how long did the "trust issues" last for you?
Click to expand...

Every single leg in IOE. That CR2 really messed up my sight picture being 3 degrees nose down on approach. You get in a 320 and think 'oh, I'm 2.5 degrees nose up, I'm already set for a flare' ................. Nooope. As my check airman once said, that's not a landing, that's an arrival. :D


In all seriousness though, I have (luckily) not been in a crash. But I could definitely see what you mean by trust issues. Rod Machado had an article on this very topic a while ago, and his advice was to immediately go up with an instructor. Don't prolong your absence from the cockpit. Then it just gets worse. Go with an instructor until you feel comfortable.
 
Being a witness to people losing their lives in airplanes is a tough pill to swallow. It takes time and your motivation will surely be diminished following such an event. I've been unlucky enough to see a few accidents. A black plume of smoke anywhere near an airport always gives me that ice running in my veins feeling. But I keep coming back because I don't know how to do anything else, my life stinks.
 
I remember having to get current after seeing the pic on the left happen (all were ok) - it took a while, backtaxying and all but I needed to do it before a flight the following day and decided to concentrate and knock it out. Some CFIs/students hung up their headsets for the day.

Fair play, I can't imagine if it was an accident I was in though, you channeling Harrison Ford?
 
I had an accident in 2013. I've flown a good bit since, but recently got the plane back after a year and am having some trust issues with it. Every other noise is an impending engine failure. ;)

I'll survive it, hopefully, just wondering if others went through them same.
 
I can imagine its tough, depending on the finer details, id be glad in a way you did, compared to those it hasn't happened to yet.

My old CFI had a student who had 2 engine failures on solo x-countries - it kinda tunes you up a few notches.
 
Airplanes are for the most part safe, helicopters are as well. I'd rather be in a helo with an engine out 90% of the time. Pilots scare the crap out of me, equipment doesn't.
 
Last edited:
ahw01 said:
I can imagine its tough, depending on the finer details, id be glad in a way you did, compared to those it hasn't happened to yet.

My old CFI had a student who had 2 engine failures on solo x-countries - it kinda tunes you up a few notches.
Click to expand...

I learned a few things. Engine failure about 300' into the climb out after a touch and go..
 
Tram said:
Just curious how many of you have walked away from a crash and gotten back in the saddle and had "trust" issues with airplanes?

If so, how long did the "trust issues" last for you?
Click to expand...
IO360's still make me a bit cross...ntsb put mine on a bench, eliminating all possibilities rear of the firewall ;), ran it up a few times and had it quit on them too. They sent everything to be inspected, it all came back good. Then they closed the case. I asked if they were concerned about it happening again, they said they it would be reopened if it did...Caused me to be a bit distrustful of the engine, never really got closure.
I look at it like getting my engine failure out of the way. I was a new cfi when it happened and turned it into a teaching tool. I think that helped a lot with any possible onset of trust issues. (With flying in general)
Have you done a write up on your case? Maybe try one of those "I learned about flying from that"? If you shared it and spoke about what you experienced, it could help purge the emotional memory and highlight the more clinical aspect of it...
 
Like others, I have not bent metal but a few items shook my confidence. A rough engine at night over water at night was enough to motivate me get my ME. And two alternator failures in a single engine has me writing off one aircraft (that seems to always have some gremlin) from my rental pool and double checking the alternator more often than probably needed. They have turned into lesson learned topics with other pilots. My girlfriend lost her radio on her solo xc, had 2 flap failures, and an alternator failure. We debrief after most flights and talk about what we did and what we should have done.
 
Three people I have crossed paths with have been in crashes that resulted in total hull losses. Two have 3-7K+ hours since. One never flew again.
 
knot4u said:
Airplanes are for the most part safe, helicopters are as well. I'd rather be in a helo with an engine out 90% of the time. Pilots scare the crap out of me, equipment doesn't.
Click to expand...

Every helicopter is an accident waiting to happen. I just hope they pass over my house before the impending inflight breakup.
;)
 
AAPalmTree said:
Every helicopter is an accident waiting to happen. I just hope they pass over my house before the impending inflight breakup.
;)
Click to expand...
With all due respect, I think you might be mistaken. Regarding single engine ops perhaps @MikeD would be willing to enlighten us with his opinion, having experienced many different airframes.
 
knot4u said:
With all due respect, I think you might be mistaken. Regarding single engine ops perhaps @MikeD would be willing to enlighten us with his opinion, having experienced many different airframes.
Click to expand...

Relax, just busting your chops. Flown helicopters, you know, before I went legit. Flying helicopters is a blast. Kind of like riding a Harley with no helmet.
 
I like helicopters, keeping all of that stuff working in unison with a person at the top end of the chain appeals to me. That said, some helicopter pilots are very strange people.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top