Former NTSB Chief Calls For Grounding Of Twin-Turboprop Airliners

Aero news network ^ | 18 Feb 09 | staff

[PilotDave]

Jim Hall Says ATR 42, Q400 Have Inherent Risks In Icing Even as the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation into the downing of Continental Connection Flight 3407 near Buffalo, NY -- and investigators take pains to note it's too soon to draw any conclusions about what caused the fatal crash -- a former head of the NTSB says all twin-engine turboprop airliners should be grounded immediately.

The Toronto Star reports Jim Hall -- who was appointed by then-President Clinton to head up NTSB in 1994, and left in 2001

[PilotDave]

Let's see, a Clinton appointed NTSB head, who now makes his living suing airline companies, actually wants to ground all turboprops in the name of safety? BRILLIANT! He finally figured out the way to ensure no more aviation accidents - chain them all to the ground!

[RegulatorCountry]

It’s not as if twin turboprops haven’t been flown by airlines for, what, over half a century?

That crash was awful, but blaming the plane is ridiculous overkill.

In the spirit of silly environmental laws, wouldn’t banning ice be more effective?

[RobRoy]

I heard a guy got killed in a car accident yesterday. We should abolish cars.

[Tenacious 1]

That crash was awful, but blaming the plane is ridiculous overkill.

The investigation might prove "the plane" had some mechanical failure. A maintenance oversite or material oddity within the plane may end up being the cause of the anomalous crash. But this guy wants to blame the design of a plane with a 50 year track record.

That's the ridiculous part.

[okie01]

Let's see, a Clinton appointed NTSB head, who now makes his living suing airline companies, actually wants to ground all turboprops in the name of safety?

Wasn't it Jim Hall's NTSB which blamed TW 800 on a faulty electrical lines in the central fuel tank?

And then couldn't seem to duplicate the effect, no matter how hard they tried?

[Eva]

Interesting, considering that I read, yesterday, that the accident was the fault of pilot error, not icing.

[null and void]

Makes sense. After all we grounded the entire 747 fleet after the center fuel tank explosion on Flight 800, didn’t we?

[Domandred]

How about grounding pilots that don’t follow procedure and turn on autopilot when they aren’t supposed to?

[PilotDave]

This crash is on the fast lane to pilot error. Captain only had 100 hrs in type, very young copilot. This plane could have landed safely with NO deicing equipment...

[Moose4]

Ah yes, Mister Center Fuel Tank gets his $.02 in.

The 1994 ATR-42 crash, yes, that was caused by icing. ATR went back and corrected the problem and the ATR-42 and -72 have an excellent safety record since then. The Bombardier Dash-8 series are real workhorses, over 1000 built and flying for 20+ years with six hull losses in that time. I think this is the first fatal crash of a Dash-8 Q400. How about waiting until the NTSB actually, y’know, INVESTIGATES the crash before coming to a conclusion? You, Mr. Hall, of all people should know that.

}:-)4

[montanajoe]

I fly in those little suckers almost every week in every type of weather. I don't need or want the gummit to ban anything and everything that could potentially kill me. I'm a big boy now...

[tcrlaf]

This is one of the idiots that urged Clinton to pass “Safety” legislation that Clinton said in his speech would “Only” cost “about 10 cents per passenger” (REALITY-It was nearly $100 per) that destroyed the Regional Airline Industry and cost many cities thier air service.

There are only a couple of true “Regionals” now, and they are slowly dying.

The others that call themselves Regionals now are just LOW-COST SUBCONTRACTORS for the Big carriers now.

[PilotDave]

“How about grounding pilots that don’t follow procedure and turn on autopilot when they aren’t supposed to?”
The rest of the story...
There’s no FAA rule on autopilots and ice, only a NTSB recommendation. The company rule was to turn it off in severe icing. It was no where near severe... The NTSB might list that as a cause, but they will be wrong. The Jim Hill run NTSD did not list “pilot error” as a factor in JFK jr’s crash. They became a hack political organisation under this guy’s leadership...

[1066AD]

It looks that way at present.

[massgopguy]

But....but....the pilot was a woman!

[Domandred]

The Jim Hill run NTSD did not list “pilot error” as a factor in JFK jr’s crash.

What? What did they list as factors then?

[mr_hammer]

“This crash is on the fast lane to pilot error. Captain only had 100 hrs in type, very young copilot.”

Yikes...are you serious? Damn, the operator ought to be questions as to why on that fact.

[Tenacious 1]

Yes. I too am interested.

If not pilot error in JFK’s crash, then what failed? And how did they know it failed? Black box? I don’t think so.

[sam_paine]

I don't need or want the gummit to ban anything and everything that could potentially kill me. I'm a big boy now...

Did you know 100% of people who spend even as little as 5 minutes a day either have already, or eventually will die?

One hundred percent! Shocking. Some Freepers we knew, like screen name "Texas Cowboy" have already succumbed.

I call for the Fairness Doctrine to be expanded as part of National Healthcare to shut down deadly plagues like Free Republic.

[RobRoy]

>>Did you know 100% of people who spend even as little as 5 minutes a day either have already, or eventually will die?<<

It is finally getting reported:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39236

It is an international tragedy and NOTHING is being done about it!