Aviation Commons^™

Vfr-Into-Imc: An Analysis Of Two Training Protocols On Weather-Related Posttest Scores, Julius C. Keller, Thomas Carney, Allen Xie, Wesley Major, Matt Price

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute, 264 accidents were identified as continued visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), during the past ten years. Approximately 89% of those VFR-into-IMC accidents were fatal, causing hundreds of deaths. VFR-into-IMC has been a major concern for the general aviation community, prompting focused efforts. Research, data analyses, outreach, training, and education are recommended practices to address risks associated with VFR-into-IMC. Researchers of the current study sought to evaluate the cause and effect relationship between two training protocols and weather-related posttest scores. A pretest–posttest experimental design was utilized …

Qualitative Analysis Of Loss Of Control Aircraft Accidents Using Text Mining Techniques, Carolina Anderson, Maryjo O. Smith

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of this study was to analyze the narrative National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident cause descriptions for general aviation (GA) Loss of Control (LOC) accident reports by the different certification categories: Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23 (Part 23), Civil Air Regulations 3 (CAR 3), Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), and Experimental-Amateur Built (E-AB). Airworthiness certification categories represent a wide diversity of government oversight. Part 23 rules have evolved from the initial set of simpler design standards and have progressed into a comprehensive and strict set of rules to address the safety issues of the more complex airplanes within the …

A Comparison Of Malfunction-Related Accidents For General Aviation Aircraft Manufactured In 1970–1984 And 2000–2014, Douglas Boyd, Jochen Hinkelbein

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

The United States general aviation fleet is aging with aircraft manufactured 35–39 years ago representing the most prevalent group. Since older aircraft are more prone to airframe corrosion, fatigue, and brittle electrical wiring, the present study was undertaken to determine whether malfunction-related accidents for general aviation aircraft manufactured between 1970 and 1984 were elevated relative to airplanes produced more recently (2000–2014).

The NTSB aviation accident database was used to identify piston-powered airplane accidents occurring over the 2005–2014 period. Aircraft manufacture year and fleet activity data were from the FAA. Statistical analyses employed contingency tables and Poisson distributions.

The proportion of …

A Comparison Of Malfunction-Related Accidents For General Aviation Aircraft Manufactured In 1970–1984 And 2000–2014, Douglas Boyd, Jochen Hinkelbein

Publications

The United States general aviation fleet is aging with aircraft manufactured 35–39 years ago representing the most prevalent group. Since older aircraft are more prone to airframe corrosion, fatigue, and brittle electrical wiring, the present study was undertaken to determine whether malfunction-related accidents for general aviation aircraft manufactured between 1970 and 1984 were elevated relative to airplanes produced more recently (2000–2014).

The NTSB aviation accident database was used to identify piston-powered airplane accidents occurring over the 2005–2014 period. Aircraft manufacture year and fleet activity data were from the FAA. Statistical analyses employed contingency tables and Poisson distributions.

The proportion of …

A Comparison Of Malfunction-Related Accidents For General Aviation Aircraft Manufactured In 1970–1984 And 2000–2014, Douglas Boyd, Jochen Hinkelbein

Publications

The United States general aviation fleet is aging with aircraft manufactured 35–39 years ago representing the most prevalent group. Since older aircraft are more prone to airframe corrosion, fatigue, and brittle electrical wiring, the present study was undertaken to determine whether malfunction-related accidents for general aviation aircraft manufactured between 1970 and 1984 were elevated relative to airplanes produced more recently (2000–2014).

The NTSB aviation accident database was used to identify piston-powered airplane accidents occurring over the 2005–2014 period. Aircraft manufacture year and fleet activity data were from the FAA. Statistical analyses employed contingency tables and Poisson distributions.

The proportion of …

Estimating Airport Operations At General Aviation Airports Using The Faa Npias Airport Categories, Mary E. Johnson, Yue Gu

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The number of annual aircraft operations (take-offs and landings) is a significant concern to both airport owners and operators and to governmental agencies because operations data are one of the most important criteria used for determining future investments in airports. However, estimating the number of aircraft operations at non-towered general aviation airports is challenging work due to the lack of counts from air traffic control towers or useful estimates developed using models. Previous work in estimating annual aircraft operations has resulted in models and sampling methods that are imprecise or difficult to use. In 2014, new classification categories of 2,939 …

2016 General Aviation Flight Training Metrics, Steven Hampton, Ken Byrnes, Troy Techau

Publications

The study evaluates training at a collegiate flight training program (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) providing metrics for time and costs from zero time to a Commercial certificated Pilot with Instrument and Multi-Engine add-ons. Training times for flights and activities are pulled from a sophisticated database used at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and matched with flight and ground school lessons and then further subdivided to determine the amount of time spent training in areas of operation that are prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration in the published Practical Test Standards and Airman Certification Standards for those seeking pilot licenses and ratings.

Provided …

Predicting General Aviation Pilots’ Weather-Related Performance Through A Scenario-Based Written Assessment, Jessica Cruit

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Weather-related accidents continue to challenge the general aviation community and with the development of advanced weather technology, GA pilots need additional education and training on how to effectively use these weather products to ensure flight safety. Currently, the literature on aviation weather suggests that there is a gap in both training and assessment strategy for GA pilots. Furthermore, several studies suggest that there needs to be more assessment of weather-related scenario/application questions for the private pilot’s written knowledge exam in order to assess a deeper level of knowledge for weather-related material. The purpose of this study is to design a …

Should Charity Air Medical Organizations Require Commercial Certification Of Their Pilots?, Douglas Boyd, Charles Peters

Publications

Fixed-wing medical transportation crashes operating under 14CFRPart 91 show higher fatal outcomes than non-medical Part 91 flights. Advanced certification may translate into increased safety; yet we know of no charity aeromedical transportation requiring such certification. Herein, in a retrospective study, we determined (a) whether commercial certification is associated with a reduced fatality rate compared with the less stringent private pilot certificate and (b) accident causes.

Causes And Risk Factors 1 For Fatal Accidents In Non-Commercial Twin Engine Piston General Aviation Aircraft, Douglas D. Boyd

Publications

Accidents in twin-engine aircraft carry a higher risk of fatality compared with single engine aircraft and constitute 9% of all general aviation accidents. The different flight profile (higher airspeed, service ceiling, increased fuel load, and aircraft yaw in engine failure) may make comparable studies on single-engine aircraft accident causes less relevant. The objective of this study was to identify the accident causes for non-commercial operations in twin engine aircraft. A NTSB accident database query for accidents in twin piston engine airplanes of 4-8 seat capacity with a maximum certified weight of 3000-8000lbs. operating under 14CFR Part 91 for the period …

The Effects Of Aircraft Certification Rules On General Aviation Accidents, Carolina Lenz Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency of general aviation airplane accidents and accident rates on the basis of aircraft certification to determine whether or not differences in aircraft certification rules had an influence on accidents. In addition, the narrative cause descriptions contained within the accident reports were analyzed to determine whether there were differences in the qualitative data for the different certification categories. The certification categories examined were: Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23, Civil Air Regulations 3, Light Sport Aircraft, and Experimental-Amateur Built. The accident causes examined were those classified as: Loss of Control, Controlled Flight …

Mapping Automotive Like Controls To A General Aviation Aircraft, Christopher G. Carvalho

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to develop fly-by-wire control laws enabling a general aviation aircraft to be flown with automotive controls, i.e. a steering wheel and gas/brake pedals. There was a six speed shifter used to change the flight mode of the aircraft. This essentially allows the pilot to have control over different aspects of the flight profile such as climb/descend or cruise. A highway in the sky was used to aid in the navigation since it is not intuitive to people without flight experience how to navigate from the sky or when to climb and descend.

Many believe …

The Effects Of Energy Beverages In Counteracting The Symptoms Of Mild Hypoxia At Legal General Aviation Altitudes, Daniel Mark Bull

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to conduct preliminary research, in the form of a pilot study, concerning the natural effects of hypoxia compared to the effects of hypoxia experienced after the consumption of an energy beverage. The study evaluated the effects of hypoxia on FAA certificated pilots at a simulated legal general aviation altitude, utilizing the normobaric High Altitude Lab (HAL) located at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida. The researcher tested 11 subjects, who completed three simulated flight tasks within the HAL using the Frasca International Mentor Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD). The flight tasks were …

An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Emergency Locator Transmitters To Reduce Response Time And Locate Wreckage In U.S. General Aviation Accidents, Ajit Jesudoss

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) help search crews to locate aircraft in distress and to rescue survivors. This study analyzed ELT data from U.S. General Aviation accidents during the period 2006 to 2010. This study examined the effectiveness of ELTs in terms of ELT Success Rate (ESR) and False Negative Rate (FNR) based on ELT-Aided. This study found a significant difference between ELT-Operated and ELT-Aided. The ESR was found to be 38.58% whereas the FNR was found to be 61.42 %. The Missing Data Ratio (MDR), where accident reports had no ELT information, was found to be above 95%. Recommendations were …

Risk Perception Analysis Of A Small Aircraft Transportation System, David S. Ferrel, Thomas Q. Carney, Scott R. Winter

Publications

This study examines the impact and relationship between demographic factors and risk perceptions toward Small Aircraft Transportation Systems (SATS). The study included 178 participants who responded to an electronic survey administered to Purdue University faculty members and to selected leaders within the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics department. Participants were surveyed as to their demographic identities including gender, age, academic position, and aviation familiarity, as well as their perceptions of physical, financial, and status risk from a SATS program. Results of this study showed that certain demographic factors are significant predictors of certain SATS travel risk perceptions. Participants’ intentions to travel via …

Developing Proactive Methods For General Aviation Data Collection, Scott Shappell, Carla Hackworth, Kali Holcomb, John Lanicci, Massoud Bazargan, Jaclyn Baron, Rebecca Iden, Daniel Halperin

Publications

Introduction. Over the last 20 years, nearly 40,000 general aviation (GA) aircraft were involved in accidents, roughly 20% of which were fatal. To address this safety concern, scientists have often relied on accident data. Because of the rare nature of accidents, commercial aviation incident and near miss data may prove to be useful sources of safety information. In one such study, the National Transportation Safety Board interviewed GA pilots that were flying near a weather-related accident in pursuit of a different perspective than that of the accident pilot. Interviewing GA pilots about their own weather-related event may provide similar …

The Influence Of Visibility, Cloud Ceiling, Financial Incentive, And Personality Factors On General Aviation Pilots' Willingness To Take Off Into Marginal Weather, Part I: The Data And Preliminary Conclusions, William Knecht, Howard Harris, Scott Shappell

Publications

Adverse weather is the leading cause of fatalities in general aviation (GA). In this research, influences of ground visibility, cloud ceiling height, financial incentive, and personality were tested on 60 GA pilots' willingness to take off into simulated adverse weather. Results suggested that pilots do not see "weather" as a monolithic cognitive construct but, rather, as an interaction between its separate factors. This is supported by the finding that the multiplicative statistical effect of visibility and ceiling could better predict takeoff than could the linear effect of either variable considered separately. Also found was a statistical trend toward financial incentive …

Final Report: A Comparison Of Three Evaluative Techniques For Validating Maintenance Documentation, Alex Chaparro, Bonnie Rogers, Chris Hambllin, Barbara Chaparro

Publications

Surveys and interviews reveal that general aviation manufacturers rely on user[s] to identify problems in maintenance documentation with corrections typically initiated in response to users-reported problems found in the manual;. This investigation compares techniques that manufacturers can use to improve the quality of the maintenance documentation developed by technical writing groups. The techniques, User Performance and Cognitive Walkthrough, were used to identify problems in aircraft maintenance documentation.

Investigating The Effects Of The Mission Status Graphics Polar Star Display On Failure Detection Time And Situation Awareness For Mission And System Monitoring In General Aviation Aircraft, Anthony P. Bartolone

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

For years, the aviation industry has been under severe scrutiny over the safety of flight when cockpit automation is over relied on and when it is under utilized. This double-edged sword raises the question of situation awareness in aviation. With the recent boom in cockpit automation and advanced avionics some fear that the pilots are being put outside "the loop". Unfortunately, humans are notoriously poor monitors of reliable systems over time. However, research is currently being conducted into a new form of display that has the ability to group a myriad of aircraft mission and system status information onto one …

General Aviation Aircraft: A Comparative Analysis Of Analog Instrument Display And Conceptual Primary Flight Display, Ungul Laptaned

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects that analog instrument display versus primary flight display (PFD) had on pilot performance. Pilot performance was evaluated by: (a) time, and (b) number of errors. There were twenty subjects with a minimum of a private pilot license selected from the Aeronautical Science department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Three flight conditions (spoiler problem, engine problem, and flap failure) acting as a control group was given to the flight students while flying a traffic pattern. A Silicon Graphics® flight simulation software program and a video camera were used as the data …

Designed Reduction Of Radiated Noise Characteristics From Two-Bladed General Aviation Propellers, Chandra K. Stich

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

In recent years increased public awareness has made the reduction of environmental noise pollution a top priority for the aviation industry. Utilizing current technology, this study examines the reduction of noise generated by two bladed general aviation propellers, through design. The Aircraft Noise Prediction Program - Propeller Analysis System (ANOPP-PAS) is used to predict the noise and performance characteristics for an industry typical reference propeller as well as for the final quiet and efficient design.

This investigation is based on the use of a 200 hp engine rotating a 76 inch propeller. Typically, such a propeller would be rotated at …

Three-Bladed Propeller Design For The Reduction Of General Aviation Radiated Noise Characteristics, Ronald W. Finn

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to design a quiet 3-Bladed propeller for general aviation aircraft. A combination of design technique and analytical predictions using the NASA Aircraft Noise Prediction Program - Propeller Analysis System (ANOPP-PAS) was used to achieve this goal. The propellers were designed for an engine power of 200 hp, a rotational speed of 2,400 RPM and a free-stream speed of 160 kts. A straight 76 in. diameter 2-bladed propeller was designed as a reference for the 64 in. diameter 3-bladed propeller. The ANOPP-PAS computer code was used for predicting the aerodynamic performance and radiated noise characteristics …

Application Of Active Noise Control To Reduce Cabin Noise In Single Engine General Aviation Aircraft, Jeroen Hendrik Dolmans

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The application of active noise control to reduce cabin noise in single engine, general aviation aircraft is investigated through the use of the 'filtered x' least mean square algorithm and a simple acoustic feedforward method to generate a reference signal is tested. The system is designed to utilize one reference signal and up to two feedback signals and two audio speakers. The feedforward system consists of a microphone placed in close proximity to the front windshield and isolated from the cabin noise. Cabin noise and reference signals are recorded during flight in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a Piper Cherokee 140 …

The Design And Experimental Optimization Of A Wingtip Vortex Turbine For General Aviation Use, Andrew Roberts

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

A wingtip vortex turbine (WVT) is an induced drag reduction device that straightens the vortex flow (reducing induced drag and wake turbulence) and also produces a thrust force component. The WVT also has the advantage of extracting the rotational energy of the vortex to turn a generator, which could be used to power onboard applications during normal or emergency flight operations. A 1/4-scale model of a thrust-producing WVT has been designed and tested in a wind tunnel for optimal drag reduction and power generation for general aviation aircraft — specifically, a Piper Cherokee — in both a stationary and a …

A Methodology For The Prediction Of The Empennage In-Flight Loads Of A General Aviation Aircraft Using Backpropagation Neural Networks, Maciej Marciniak

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Backpropagation neural networks have been used to predict strain resulting from the maneuver in-flight loads in the empennage structure of a Cessna 172P. The purpose of this research was to develop a methodology for the prediction of strain in the tail section of a general aviation aircraft and to determine the minimum set of sensors necessary to adequately train the neural networks. Linear accelerometer, angular accelerometer, rate gyro, and strain gage signals were collected in flight using DAQBook portable data acquisition system for dutch-roll, roll, sideslip left, sideslip right, stabilized g turn left, stabilized g turn right, and push-pull maneuvers …