EAA’s Type Club Coalition Meet at AirVenture Oshkosh

Type clubs are often the best resource for information and documentation, and they add socialization among owners, sometimes even hosting annual fly-ins. Whether the aircraft that owns you is certificated or experimental, sharing information and best practices with like-minded owners or builders is always helpful.

EAA’s Type Club Coalition is a group of aircraft type clubs with the stated mission to leverage the knowledge and resources of the coalition to better prepare general aviation pilots for flight risks associated with known accident “hot spots.” The TCC’s vision is a future with unprecedented, low general aviation fatal accident rates. These efforts have produced tangible results, as reflected in the reduction in the accident rate.

Each year, the TCC meets annually in the EAA Founders’ Wing. This year, Tom Turner of the American Bonanza Society discussed a yearlong initiative focused on retractable landing gear incidents. There is a new website, available as a resource to all interested parties, at PutYourGearDown.com.

According to the website, “Gear-up and gear-collapse mishaps are the single biggest threat to the longevity of the Beechcraft fleet. This campaign equips pilots, owners, and mechanics with the training, tools, and habits to prevent them — every flight, every approach, every time.”

The issue affects more than just Bonanzas, though.

Consistently, about 40 percent of reported mishaps are gear related, and in most cases the cost of recovery or repair means that the aircraft is totaled. In these incidents, 40 percent forgot to put the gear down, 55 percent were some sort of gear collapse, and about 5 percent had enough detail in the preliminary report to say some mechanical failure was involved.

The issue is severe enough that retractable gear is a major reason for age-related insurance cutoff for more seasoned pilots. The website has resources for pilots, CFIs, and mechanics.

Ric Peri of the Aircraft Electronics Association discussed pending changes to AC 43.13. The AC is out of date, over 1,000 pages long, and in need of an update. Ric is asking type clubs and their members to get involved.

Tom Charpentier, EAA’s government relations director, reviewed a pending EAA initiative involving legacy fleet support, parts availability, and a discussion of how to define the problem so it can be addressed.

Matt Speare of the Lancair Owners and Builders Organization (LOBO) reviewed the Light-Sport Repairman — Inspection (Airplane) course that LOBO has been offering, the process of how it was approved by the FAA, and the ongoing challenges of meeting demand for the course.

Matt said, “The process is outlined in 14 CFR § 65.107 and expanded upon in Advisory Circular 65-32B, Certification of Repairmen (Light-Sport). To become an authorized provider, an organization must develop a comprehensive 16-hour curriculum that satisfies the knowledge requirements established by the FAA for the inspection rating.

“The curriculum must include lesson plans, learning objectives, instructional materials, student handouts, a written examination, grading standards, and procedures for maintaining student records.

“The course must also identify qualified instructors with the technical knowledge and instructional experience necessary to teach the material. In addition to the curriculum, the provider must demonstrate that it has appropriate classroom facilities, instructional equipment, and administrative procedures to deliver the course effectively.

“An application package is submitted to the FAA containing the course syllabus, instructor qualifications, testing procedures, sample completion certificate, quality assurance process, and other supporting documentation required by AC 65-32B.

“The FAA conducts a detailed review to ensure the course meets all regulatory and instructional standards before issuing a course acceptance number.”

As TCC chair, I organize the meeting and the agenda, and this year I brought up a real-world scenario from this past May. A fatal accident that I witnessed — without getting into details — was a brutal reminder of the importance of transition training, and the requirement for preparation for a first flight. It brought home the need for the ongoing mission of the TCC and the initiatives we focus on.