Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I) remains one of the most significant contributors to fatal accidents worldwide. It is also an usual contributor in all IVAO aircraft crashes in our IVAO network.
Loss of Control In-flight refers to accidents in which the flight crew was unable to maintain control of the aircraft in flight, resulting in an unrecoverable deviation from the intended flight path.
LOC-I can result from a range of interferences including engine failures, icing, or stalls. It is one of the most complex accident categories, involving numerous contributing factors that act individually or, more often, in combination.
The causes of in flight Loss of Control, whether transitory or terminal, are many and include the categories described below.
Contributory Factors are :
- Distraction
- Adverse weather
- Complacency
- Inadequate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for effective flight management
- Insufficient height above terrain for recovery
- Lack of awareness of or competence in procedures for recovery from unusual aircraft attitudes
- Inappropriate flight control inputs in response to a sudden awareness of an abnormal bank angle
An aircraft system control failure may lead to loss of control.
This would include:
- Multiple engine failure
- Loss of correct function or control of a significant element of the flying controls
- Asymmetric fails on spoilers/slats/flaps/thrust reversers
- Major electrical failure and loss or malfunction of critical flight instrument displays.
An aircraft structural failure may lead to loss of control. (mainly non applicable to IVAO).
This would include:
- Mid air collision
- Explosive decompression
- Fire on board
- Aircraft onboard or outboard fire
- Fuel exhaustion or starvation
A loss of power may lead to loss of control.
This would include:
- Abnormal engine fuel
- Engine failure (overheat, hydraulic failure, ...)
- Structural or multiple power plant damage
- Bird Strike
- Exposure to severe Turbulence
- Collision with another aircraft.
¶ Pilot incapacitation and pilot control error
Pilot Incapacitation is the phenomena when the pilot is not able to maintain control his aircraft in normal operation.
- Loss of Situational Awareness
- Intended or unintended mishandling of the aircraft
- Mismanagement of Aircraft Pressurisation Systems
- False instrument readings displayed to the flight crew
- Pilot distraction (includes inattention or absent response from a pilot
- Pilot fatigue (includes inappropriate or absent response from a pilot)
- Pilot Incapacitation (includes the consequences of a deterioration in the physical or mental condition).
This would include:
- Incorrect aircraft performance calculations
- Unintentional pilot mis-management of critical systems including engines autopilot and fuel transfer
- Pre-flight fuel loading
- Pilot disorientation
- Unintended operation outside the requirements of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM).
Environmental factors external to the aircraft which interfere with normal use
This would include :
- Low level wind shear
- Higher level Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)
- Ice accretion on the airframe before take off or during flight
- Ice accretion sensors before take off or during flight
- Microburst/severe wind shear
- Severe wake vortex
- Severe air turbulence
- Volcanic ash
- An encounter with flocking birds resulting in bird strike
- Effects of damage caused by runway surface debris
Loss of control can occur if the aircraft is :
- Total load or load distribution outside of aircraft safe limits
- Mis-trimmed with the actual loading
Malicious interference is not applicable and forbidden in the IVAO Network.
The effects of loss of control may include: (mainly not applicable to IVAO)
- Discomfort or injury to the occupants prior to recovery to controlled flight
- Structural damage to the aircraft or total loss of the aircraft
- Fatal or serious injury to occupants due to terrain impact and/or post impact fire.
¶ Defences and solution to prevent loss of control
The defence would be:
- Pilot training to avoid distraction from the primary task of managing or flying the aircraft
- Pilot training to face imminent loss of control alerts
- Pilot training to conduct their flight to stay in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC).
See alsoReferenceAuthor
- VID 150259 - Creation
- VID 150259 - Wiki integration
- VID 496402 - Wiki.js integration