Loss of Control: wheel spats

Preflight preparation helps us free up capacity in the air to deal with unexpected issues. One of the things that can best prepare you for your flight is to conduct a thorough preflight walkround using a checklist. With so much to cover, do you find that you sometimes wonder if you did it all correctly?

Your preparation should start before you head to the airfield. Using the IMSAFE checklist is always a good place to start, in terms of how you (the pilot) are feeling and whether you should be flying today. Using an aircraft-specific checklist, no matter how familiar you are with it, will ensure you have done all you can to prepare for a safe flight/any complications.

Remember, a walkround is not only a means to check items off of a list. It’s time to inspect and examine the systems of your aircraft. You want to make sure they are in proper working order and meet all regulatory requirements for the flight.

Recently, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have seen an uptick in incidents involving mud-accumulation in wheel spats, leading to Loss of Control incidents on the ground. With this in mind, as part of your preflight walkaround, are you:

• Inspecting your wheel spats before flying and after landing, ensuring they are clean of mud and debris?

• When operating from a grass strip, do you consider taking the spats off to avoid debris accumulation?

• Do you check the runway condition? Is it suitable for takeoff? What about the braking action?

Whilst it may sound simple, checking these things could prevent any nasty (or costly) surprises at a critical stage of flight. It’s always wise to give yourself plenty of time to avoid rushing and potentially missing key warning signs. So, by making sure to stick to a checklist and being thorough in your inspections, this will give you the confidence that you have done all the necessary preparation and planning to set you up for a safe flight.