FAA · Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO)
SAFO 14005: Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 121 Operators Flap Misconfiguration Events
In Brief
What It Addresses
This SAFO serves to raise awareness of aircraft misconfigurations on takeoff with an emphasis on flap position.
Why It Matters
The Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program recently concluded an analysis of flap misconfiguration events. This analysis included takeoff attempts with flaps set at zero and flap movement during the takeoff roll.
Recommended Action
Directors of Operations, Directors of Safety, Program Managers, Directors of Training, Training Center Program Managers, Check Pilots, Training Pilots, Chief Pilots and flightcrews should be familiar with the information contained in this SAFO. They should work together to ensure that the content of this SAFO is emphasized in their training programs to raise awareness among their flightcrews of flap misconfiguration events.
From the Document: selected source passages, quoted as written, for a quick overview.
Distributed by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-220
SAFOSafety Alert for Operators
U.S. Department SAFO 14005
of Transportation DATE: 11/25/14
Federal Aviation
Administration Flight Standards Service
Washington, DC http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. SAFO content should be especially valuable to air carriers in meeting their statutory duty to provide service with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest. Besides the specific action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety issue named in the SAFO.
Subject: Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 121 Operators Flap Misconfiguration Events
Purpose: This SAFO serves to raise awareness of aircraft misconfigurations on takeoff with an emphasis on flap position.
Background: The Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program recently concluded an analysis of flap misconfiguration events. This analysis included takeoff attempts with flaps set at zero and flap movement during the takeoff roll.
Discussion: The ASIAS analysis indicates that while flap misconfiguration events on takeoff are rare, they do exist. Approximately half of the events for misconfiguration during the takeoff roll resulted in rejected takeoffs. The other takeoffs were continued with the flaps being moved during the takeoff roll. The configuration of the airplane by the flightcrew should be in accordance with the operational checklists. It is imperative that flightcrews exercise discipline in the use and the execution of operational checklists to prevent aircraft misconfigurations on takeoff.
Recommended Action: Directors of Operations, Directors of Safety, Program Managers, Directors of Training, Training Center Program Managers, Check Pilots, Training Pilots, Chief Pilots and flightcrews should be familiar with the information contained in this SAFO. They should work together to ensure that the content of this SAFO is emphasized in their training programs to raise awareness among their flightcrews of flap misconfiguration events. This is especially important if procedures are being changed in light of the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) de-icing procedures.
Operators should review their own Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) data for flap misconfiguration events. Operators are also reminded to conduct an analysis on any change as part of their Safety Management System (SMS) processes.
Contact: Questions or comments regarding this SAFO should be directed to the Part 121 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-220 at (202) 267-8166.
Source: Federal Aviation Administration — www.faa.gov. Reproduced from the published record; FlightPush adds formatting only.
SAFO 14005