August 1998
 |
 |
| Select WP-09................................................................................August '98 |
What’s in this Issue: |
| Stealthy Killer .....What you can do to avoid the "great mimic" Web Sites for Airmen Danger
Zones |
Safety Seminars
..........For Long Beach Area ..........For Los Angeles Area ..........For Riverside Area ..........ForVan Nuys Area |
Stealthy
Killer
What you can do to avoid the
"great mimic"
Have you ever experienced sleepiness or fatigue while flying? How about a headache or dizziness or flu-like symptoms or irritability? You may have experienced carbon monoxide poisoning and not really noticed. That’s why its called the "great mimic."
Carbon monoxide (CO) is in the air. Anything that burns gives off this tasteless and odorless gas. It attaches to your hemoglobin, displacing oxygen molecules and forming carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). Your brain, your tissues and even your muscles get less oxygen, causing hypoxia-lack of oxygen.
We almost always have some CO poisoning in our system. Smokers who average a pack a day will chronically have COHb blood levels as high as 10%. Smoking makes exposure from other sources of CO more significant because the effects are cumulative.
Accident/incident information seems to indicate the mishaps caused by CO are uncommon, but the data may be misleading. Some informal surveys tell us that many pilots think they have been exposed to something more than a normal dose of carbon monoxide. Remember those symptoms we mentioned at the beginning of this article?
Heating systems in our aircraft cause the majority of the CO poisoning accidents. It’s easy to see why. The exhaust pipe or muffler of most light aircraft is surrounded by a shroud which collects heated air from the outside of the pipe and sends this warmed air into the cabin. Carbon monoxide is lighter than air so it will rise and gather toward the top of the cabin.
In April of 1994, a Cessna 182 left Long Beach one evening for Modesto. ATC radar showed the aircraft deviating from assigned headings and altitudes. The erratic behavior became progressively worse and the plane crashed.
The pilot reported that he had turned on the cabin heat during initial climb. After reaching cruise altitude, his vision blurred, he developed a headache and nausea and had trouble breathing. Within a short time, he lost consciousness.
Hospital tests on the seriously injured pilot were negative for drugs and alcohol, but they revealed a significant level of COHb.
Preflight actions to minimize your chances for exposure to CO poisoning :
- Look for traces of leaks around the joints and welded areas of the muffler and streaks of exhaust residue around cowling and cowl fasteners.
- Check for proper support of the muffler, for cracks, signs of rust, chaffing or bending near brackets
One effective way to protect yourself :
- Install a CO detector in the cockpit. These chemical spots
change color when CO is present. They should be mounted high on the instrument panel. Best yet, place one on each side of the panel within easy eye reference.
If you suspect carbon monoxide is present:
- Shut down cabin heater and open fresh air vents, use 100 percent oxygen if you have it, land as soon as possible and seek medical attention.
- On the ground, have your exhaust system inspected by a maintenance technician.
CO is a killer. A few prudent steps can keep
you and your passengers safe.
 |
Web Sites for Airmen SoCal's Picks-of-the-Month |
http://www.faa.gov/faadocs.htm This FAA site provides access to documents airmen frequently require. You can find the Practical Test Standards, Advisory Circulars and more.
http://www.aerolink.com/ This site calls
itself an aviation link farm. Over 6,000
links to aviation topics are available here. If you are looking
for something special in aviation and it isn’t linked to
this site, it probably doesn’t exit.
Were you able to name the top 3 areas reported in the NASA
system for Airborne Conflict and Collision Incident from last
month’s issue?
Π2-3 miles NE of John Wayne Airport between 4000-6000 feet AGL
1-2 miles SE of John Wayne Airport between 4000-6000 feet AGL
Ž 3-4 miles SE of Torrance Airport between 800-3000 feet AGL
1-6 miles E of Corona Airport between1000-3000 feet AGL
1-4 miles S & W of the Queen Mary between 500-4000 feet AGL
| Do you remember who
or what it was that first sparked your love for aviation? The Explorers, a division of Boy Scouts of America, is looking for people who love aviation. These volunteers are needed to mentor young men and women 14 to 21 years old. The post is especially in need of a coordinator, someone who has the time to organize and facilitate its weekly meetings as well as plan outings and field trips. Sunrise Aviation at the John Wayne Airport has donated the use of a classroom where the meetings are held. Please contact : Mark A. Jones,
Exploring Executive, OC Council |
FAA FSDO WEB PAGES LGB FSDO http//www.faa.gov/fsdo/lgb/ |
| SoCal..Aviation..Safety..Seminars..........................................August '98 |
| Note for all Seminars - Times are from 7:00 to 9:00 PM unless otherwise noted. No reservations are required unless noted by *. Never a fee. - For more information contact the Safety Program Manager listed in the FSDO area heading containing the event in question. All FAA Safety Seminars satisfy the requirements of AC-61.91H; the Pilot Proficiency Awards Program (Wings) and /or the Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program; AC-65-25A. |
* = Reservations Required LONG BEACH TORRANCE SANTA ANA TORRANCE LONG BEACH TORRANCE (Continues with Column 2) |
LONG
BEACH .....................................Thu Aug 27 Thursday Night Movies: Runway Incursions/ Runway Markings Location: LGB FSDO 5001 Airport Plaza Dr, Ste 100 Discussion: Kathleen O’Brien, LGB Contact: LGB FSDO (562) 420-1755 TORRANCE
* = Reservations Required HAWTHORNE INGLEWOOD EL MONTE LAVERN/BRACKETT (Continues with Column 3) |
HAWTHORNE
...............................Wed Aug 19 Decent to the MDA or DH and Beyond Location: Hawthorne Flight Service Speaker: Chris Whitaker, LAX FSDO Sponsor: Hawthorne Flight Service Contact: LAX FSDO (310) 215-2150 COMPTON SANTA MONICA
* = Reservations Required RIVERSIDE (Continues below) |
| SoCal..Aviation..Safety..Seminars..........................................August '98 |
| RIVERSIDE
..................................Tue Aug 25 Tuesday Night Movies "17 Ways to Fall Out of the Sky", Parts I and II Location: Riverside FSDO at Riverside Airport Speaker: None - All video presentation Sponsor: RAL FSDO Contact: R. C. Morton (909) 276-6701 ex 37 RIVERSIDE
* = Reservations Required EDWARDS AFB PALMDALE CAMARILLO |
VAN
NUYS The following 3 Seminars are located at Aeroplex - 7949 Woodley Ave. Speaker: Gene Hudson Contact: (818) 382-4791 ..................................Tue Aug 11 ..................................Tue Aug 18 ..................................Tue Aug 25 VAN NUYS ................6:30-8:00PM Tue Aug 4 .............6:30-8:00PM Tue Aug 11 .............6:30-8:00PM Tue Aug 18 .............6:30-8:00PM Tue Aug 25 |
VAN
NUYS The following 9 Seminars are located at AV8, Inc., 16431 Vanowen St. Contact: Richard Mend (818) 994-9770 ............9:00-11:00AM Sat Aug 1 ...........9:00-11:00AM Sat Aug 8 .............................Wed Aug 12 ........9:00-11:00AM Sat Aug 15 ..........5:30-7:00PM Tue Aug 18 .............................Wed Aug 19 .........5:30-7:00PM Thur Aug 20 .........9:00-11:00AM Sat Aug 22 .........9:00-11:00AM Sat Aug 29 |
| SoCal Aviation Safety Review is published monthly by the F.A.A. Western Pacific Safety Program. Comments, suggestions and news info are invited. SoCal Aviation Safety Review reserves the right to edit all material. Please address all correspondence to: your local Safety Program Manager. Edited by Kevin L. Clover - FAA AWP-204 - 5001 Airport Plaza Dr. Ste 100 - Long Beach, CA 90815 - E-Mail kevin.l.clover@faa.dot.gov |
| Select WP-09 ........................................................................................................August '98 |
|
| |
What's in this issue |
| |
San Diego Super Safety Seminar The Super Safety Seminar is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 1998, at Gillespie Field, at the Aerospace Museum. Admission is free and we have three classrooms full of seminar topics. These topics include Mountain Flying, Local & Beyond, Aviation Communiations, MEL’s/Pre-flights, Women in ...(Continued below , left column) |