Civil Air Patrol CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES Propeller Damage Prevention

Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol

CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIESCITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES

Propeller Damage PreventionPropeller Damage Prevention

OverviewOverview

Prop Strike DefinitionProp Strike Definition

Preflight InspectionPreflight Inspection

Surface ConditionsSurface Conditions

Soft Taxi Ways & RunwaysSoft Taxi Ways & Runways

Airfield LightingAirfield Lighting

Apron FamiliarityApron Familiarity

Post Flight InspectionPost Flight Inspection

Propeller Damage Prevention Propeller Damage Prevention


DefinitionDefinition

A “A “prop strike” prop strike” is when the propeller of an is when the propeller of an aircraft hits anything during taxi, take off, or aircraft hits anything during taxi, take off, or landing.landing.

May cause injury and is always expensive!May cause injury and is always expensive!



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Broken_propeller.jpg

Preflight Inspection of PropellerPreflight Inspection of Propeller

View overall condition – paint, marks, rust, View overall condition – paint, marks, rust, etc.etc.

Inspect Propeller tips – marks, grass, etc.Inspect Propeller tips – marks, grass, etc.

Look for nicks & stress fractures.Look for nicks & stress fractures.

Check for oil leaks around the prop hub.Check for oil leaks around the prop hub.

Nose cone secure? – All screws installed.Nose cone secure? – All screws installed.

Notify CAP personnel if undocumented Notify CAP personnel if undocumented damage is found; damage is found; priorprior to flight. to flight.




Departing the prepared surface – Avoid it!Departing the prepared surface – Avoid it!

A major contributor to prop strikes.A major contributor to prop strikes.

Be aware and prepared!Be aware and prepared!

Standing water – Hydroplane hazard.Standing water – Hydroplane hazard.

Ice – May slide off prepared surface.Ice – May slide off prepared surface.

High winds – Directional control issue.High winds – Directional control issue.



Soft Taxiways & Soft RunwaysSoft Taxiways & Soft Runways

Operate on Operate on drydry soft surfaces when possible. soft surfaces when possible.

Potential for wheels to sink down during Potential for wheels to sink down during landing & taxi when the surface is wet, landing & taxi when the surface is wet, resulting in bounces causing propeller resulting in bounces causing propeller and/or tail strikes.and/or tail strikes.



Soft Taxiways & Soft Runways (continued)Soft Taxiways & Soft Runways (continued)

Avoid FOD (Foreign Object Damage)!Avoid FOD (Foreign Object Damage)!

FOD hazards can damage the propeller.FOD hazards can damage the propeller.

Vegetation, pebbles, sticks, trash, etc.Vegetation, pebbles, sticks, trash, etc.




Be familiar with taxi & runway lighting; to Be familiar with taxi & runway lighting; to keep you on the prepared surface at night.keep you on the prepared surface at night.

Be aware of potential blinding hangar Be aware of potential blinding hangar lighting and preserve your night vision.lighting and preserve your night vision.

If you can’t see where you are going, stop If you can’t see where you are going, stop the aircraft!the aircraft!



Apron (Ramp) FamiliarityApron (Ramp) Familiarity

Know where permanent hazards are.Know where permanent hazards are.

Clear the area of FOD & Obstacles.Clear the area of FOD & Obstacles.

Do this prior to aircraft movement.Do this prior to aircraft movement.

Be familiar with Taxi lines.Be familiar with Taxi lines.

Know where other aircraft Know where other aircraft typically park.typically park.

Be watchful of temporary obstacles such as Be watchful of temporary obstacles such as chocks, tow bars, tie-down ropes etc.chocks, tow bars, tie-down ropes etc.



Post-flight InspectionPost-flight Inspection

Inspect propeller tips – marks, grass, etc.Inspect propeller tips – marks, grass, etc.

Look for nicks & stress fractures.Look for nicks & stress fractures.

Inspect for oil leaks around the prop hub.Inspect for oil leaks around the prop hub.



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/D-EIBR_Prop_%288221210681%29.jpg

SummarySummary

Prop Strike DefinitionProp Strike Definition

Preflight InspectionPreflight Inspection


Soft Taxi Ways & RunwaysSoft Taxi Ways & Runways


Apron FamiliarityApron Familiarity

Post Flight InspectionPost Flight Inspection



QuestionsQuestions

Please be sure to utilize the local expertise in Please be sure to utilize the local expertise in your chain of command to help with aviation your chain of command to help with aviation related questions; your Unit, Wing, and related questions; your Unit, Wing, and Region Stan/Eval Officers (DOV) are a Region Stan/Eval Officers (DOV) are a wealth of knowledge and are ready to assist.wealth of knowledge and are ready to assist.



AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

Many thanks to the following for their input into this presentation:Many thanks to the following for their input into this presentation:

Colonel Michael Jay Murrell – Deputy Chief of Staff for OperationsColonel Michael Jay Murrell – Deputy Chief of Staff for OperationsColonel Carlton Sumner – National Stan/Eval OfficerColonel Carlton Sumner – National Stan/Eval OfficerCol Alex Kay – National Chief of SafetyCol Alex Kay – National Chief of SafetyMr. John Desmarais, Sr. – Director of Operations, CAP National Headquarters Mr. John Desmarais, Sr. – Director of Operations, CAP National Headquarters Joe Piccotti – Chief of Aircraft Operations, CAP National HeadquartersJoe Piccotti – Chief of Aircraft Operations, CAP National HeadquartersMr. Axel Kreimeier – National Safety Team Liaison, CAP National HeadquartersMr. Axel Kreimeier – National Safety Team Liaison, CAP National HeadquartersMs. Sylvia Wrigley – World Renowned Pilot & Aviation AuthorMs. Sylvia Wrigley – World Renowned Pilot & Aviation Author And, all of those who supported this effort to enhance the safety of flight ops.And, all of those who supported this effort to enhance the safety of flight ops.



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Civil Air Patrol CITIZENS SERVING COMMUNITIES Propeller Damage Prevention