Wings, Wheels and Water

AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT TOTALS DROP TO HISTORIC LOWS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT TOTALS DROP TO HISTORIC LOWS

EAA safety efforts contribute to steady decline while flight hours increase

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (November 16, 2017) — Fatal accidents in experimental category aircraft, particularly amateur-built aircraft, continued their decline during the Federal Aviation Administration’s 2017 fiscal year that ended September 30, falling to historic lows.

For the 12-month period from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017, fatal accident totals in amateur-built aircraft were down 18 percent to just 27, compared with 33 during the 2016 fiscal year. That continues a four-year trend that has seen a total drop of 47 percent in fatal accidents, despite an increasing amount of flight hours each year over that period. The specific totals compare to 40 amateur-built aircraft fatal accidents during the 2015 fiscal year and 51 in the 2014 fiscal year.

In addition, fatal accident totals for the experimental category overall, including racing aircraft, those used for exhibit only, research-and-development, and some types of light-sport aircraft, dropped as well. Total fatal accidents fell from 49 to 45 during the 12-month measurement period ending September 30, 2017. The final figures are nearly 25 percent below the FAA’s “not-to-exceed” goal of 59 fatal accidents for that period.

“These are historic lows for fatal accident in amateur-built aircraft and this continuing trend is a credit to everyone who is focusing on safety,” said Sean Elliott, vice president of Advocacy and Safety for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), who highlighted these figures at the FAA General Aviation Safety Summit in late October. “The overall fatal accident numbers remain much lower than other recreational pursuits, such as paddle sports, skiing and snowboarding, and driving all-terrain vehicles. Statistics even show that being involved in a fatal amateur-built aircraft accident is less likely than being killed in a lightning strike incident.”

EAA has worked closely with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board on recommendations to reduce fatal accidents, including through participation in the FAA General Aviation Joint Steering Committee that EAA co-chairs. The EAA focus has also included the Founder’s Innovation Prize competition that seeks innovations to reduce loss-of-control accidents in amateur-built aircraft; a focus on transition and recurrent training; and use of an additional safety pilot during initial flight testing in amateur-built aircraft.

“These efforts build upon EAA’s longstanding Technical Counselor and Flight Advisor programs, and additional safety materials available through EAA’s flagship Sport Aviation magazine,” Elliott said. “Further reducing the accident totals is a continuing challenge, but one that is foremost as part of EAA’s mission to grow participation in aviation.”

About EAA

EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 200,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.

EAA-2017-45, For more information, contact: Dick Knapinski, EAA Communications, (920) 426-6523  dknapinski@eaa.org

 

Storing boats over the Winter

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Storing boats over the winter.

Question:

I live in an area where I am storing boats for a number of months over the winter is a requirement.  What’s the best way to protect my boat?

Answer:

When storing boats (whatever the reason) you should always cover it to keep out the “riff raff” (bugs, dust, birds, small animals). But, just putting a tarp over it is not enough.  Owners should make sure that they remove all the paper goods that can be damaged by moisture or mice.  Don’t entice small rodents and bugs by leaving food or food scrap stored in the cabinets.

It’s also important to remove or rearrange the cushions, seat pads and flotation equipment.  The best is to remove anything that can absorb moisture and smells and store the items in a secure dry location.  Usually that’s not possible do make sure that as much of the dirt and moisture is removed from the cushions and jacket prior to covering the boat.

You will also want to put all the cushion or pads on their edges to reduce the amount of surface area that is in contact with another surface.  To keep the cushions dry and free from mold and mildew you need to have as much airflow going around them as possible.

It will also be very important to place some sort of moisture absorption packets or containers within the boat too reduce the moisture that will collect after the boat is stored.

Storing boats in a dry, climate control location is the best.  But not many owners have that available so the next best thing is to cover the boat with a tarp or shrink-wrap.  A tarp would probably be the second choice.  A canvas cover or tarp will stop things from dropping into the boat and seal out the majority of the dirt and crud, but often they are not tight enough around the edges to prevent bugs, mice and moisture from entering.  Additionally, canvas covers will leak if the moisture pools on the top surfaces.   If you store the boat at an outside facility the wind can take any loose area of a tarp and start it flapping usually resulting in tears to the cover and damage to the boats surface.

A better system is to shrink wrap the boat with something like Dr. Shrink’s shrink-wrap.  www.dr-shrink.com.  Dr. Shrink can provide a boat owner with a complete kit of materials and tools to shrink-wrap a boat of almost any size.  Actually, they can provide the supplies to shrink-wrap almost anything you want.

The kits include material, tape, supports and vents.  If needed, you can even get a propane powered heat gun to shrink the material.  The shrink-wrap materials are waterproof and virtually tear proof.  And if installed correctly should not be loose or susceptible to winds and flapping. The supports are used to keep the shrink-wrap from sagging and collection pools of moisture or snow.

To get a good shrink-wrap requires that you remove the wax from the surface that the tapes will stick to.  This is also a good time to clean the exterior of the boat. A good coat of wax on the boats surface (except where the tape line to hold the shrink wrap down will be) reduces the amount or dirt and grime that stick to the surface.  Springtime preparation will be a lot easier if you wax up the surface before you park the boat.

You will also need to install the support brackets, moisture absorption packets and vents and access panels.  One thing about shrink-wrapping, it is more difficult to remove than a tarp and if you do the job right, it seals the boat very well preventing moisture from getting in OR out.  Having a few cross flow vents will allow air to move back and forth (in and out) of the covered area.  This airflow will reduce the build up of moisture and the risk of mold and mildew.  An access panel to get through the shrink-wrap will allow you to get to the absorption packets so they can be replaced.  Most absorption packets or buckets (I use Damp Rid) will need to be dumped and refilled at least once over the winter season

I have met a couple of people that sprinkle “moth balls” through out the boat to keep moths, assorted bugs and, they say, mice from living in the boat.  Mousetraps and poisons might catch the unwanted squatters, but need to be monitored on a regular basis.

Storing boats doesn’t happen just in the winter.  Anytime you plan on leaving your boat stored for any length of time make sure you protect it.  Again, whatever means you use to cover and store your boat make sure that you have taken all the necessary precautions by removing fragile items, food and papers.  Open drains, elevate the bow, remove the battery to prevent freezing, treat the fuel system and winterize the engine.  These items and more must be done to protect the boat. If you feel you cant or don’t want to do this as the owner, pay a professional.

storing boat