http://www.aopa.org/neveragain AOPA presents the "Never Again" series in AOPA Pilot magazine and online to allow pilots to learn from the experiences of others. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:51:08 GMT ListGarden Program 1.3.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us AOPA Ben Roberts Ben.Roberts@aopa.org On a clear winter day, I departed Burlington, North Carolina, for Jackson County Airport at the western edge of the state for a visit with my fiancé. I had just reached cruising altitude at 6,500 feet, established flight following with Greensboro Approach and engaged the autopilot for what I thought would be a smooth, comfortable, VFR flight. Then I felt a slight tremor in my A-36 Bonanza and glanced at the instrument panel. To my astonishment, it was completely dark. There wasn’t a single light or flicker anywhere. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:08:06 GMT I’m a knowledgeable, careful, cautious pilot, right? Unfortunately, no, I’m not. And here’s why: A few years ago I took a cross-country trip during which I made so many mistakes and errors of judgment it’s a wonder I am still here to write about it. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:49:17 GMT The air was smooth as glass, and I had the traffic pattern to myself. It couldn’t have been better—right up until the time I retracted the landing gear. As soon as the gear was up, the Baron began to violently shake and shudder. I noticed that it wasn’t just the aircraft that was shaking; the control yoke itself was oscillating in my hand, separate from the rest of the aircraft. My attention shifted to the control surfaces, and I swiveled around in my seat to give them a close look. Then I saw it... Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:42:33 GMT Suddenly I could see a light spray of fuel pouring a mist of avgas on my leg. As I was looking for the grass strips, I spotted what looked like a hard-surface runway. … A guy drove up … walked up to me, sort of got in my face, and said, “Do you know you just landed inside a prison?” Yikes! Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:52:48 GMT Although some minor variation in the fuel gauges was common in our previous plane, I was somewhat disconcerted to see that the fuel gauges in the new plane were fluctuating wildly...when I landed, I had 3.4 gallons of usable fuel left! Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:00:04 GMT Something felt strange...I looked outside and finally discovered the problem: I had snagged the loop with my right main landing gear instead of the hook. Uh-Oh! Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:58:59 GMT The chicken sandwiches were great. But were they worth braving a 45-knot crosswind? Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:28:01 GMT A Mooney pilot encounters a crosswind that nearly overpowers his aircraft on takeoff. Find out how the pilot salvaged a bad situation in "Never Again: Almost Gone With The Wind" by Bill Keathley, read by AOPA Senior Editor Thomas B. Haines. Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:41:34 GMT A taxiing Kitfox nearly becomes a tumbleweed when a powerful turboprop runs up its engines. Find out how the Kitfox pilot avoided serious damage in "Never Again: Propwash" by Guy Buchanan, read by AOPA editor-in-chief Thomas Haines. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:37:06 GMT A float plane adventure ends early and nearly in disaster, for two brothers in a Cessna 180. Find out what stopped them in "Never Again: Lost Dances" by Loren Bauman, read by AOPA senior editor Alton Marsh. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:42:42 GMT A highly experienced pilot runs out of fuel despite careful calculations. Find out what went wrong--and what went right--on "Never Again: Fuel Gauge on Empty" by Ren Hart, read by AOPA senior editor Alton Marsh. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:09:25 GMT A flight instructor and instrument student are confronted with jammed controls and low visibility on a training flight. Find out how they escape in "Never Again: Overlooking the Obvious" by Jud Phillips, read by AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschmann. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:17:14 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-01-51 An air force fighter pilot attempts to land despite a strong tailwind. Find out how he pulls it off in "Never Again: F-16 Cross-Country to Korea" by Jeffrey Stambaugh, read by AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschmann. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:15:56 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-01-57 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A Mooney pilot over Lake Michigan faces an IFR descent and forced landing. Find out what went wrong in "Never Again: Dead-Stick into Muscegon" by Ed Haines, read by AOPA senior editor Paul Richfield. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:14:50 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-06 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A former Vietnam pilot faces a series of critical decisions in what was supposed to be a simple cross-country flight in an R22. Find out about his harrowing flight in "Never Again: R22 Night Cross Country," by Roger Daisley, read by AOPA's senior editor Paul Richfield. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:11:48 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-01 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A Bonanza on a night flight to Atlanta encounters severe turbulence in a fast-moving weather system. Find out how the pilot escaped in "Never Again: New Year's Resolution," by David Howe and read by AOPA senior editor Dave Hirschman. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:39:28 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-16 AOPA Pilot Never Again: An electrical failure on a private pilot's first trip with his wife brings some tense moments in the sky over a busy California airport. How did the pilot get the Piper Arrow's landing gear down? Find out in "Never Again: Stress Changes Everything," by Thomas W. Shalhoub, read by AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschman. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:46:53 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-22 AOPA Pilot Never Again: A heavily loaded Piper Archer faces deteriorating weather and coastal fog in Maine. How did the pilot react? AOPA's senior editor Dave Hirschman reads for you Never Again: No Shortage of Challenges, by Bill Feinstein. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:32:36 GMT neveragain-2008-09-08-16-02-28