Cockpit Crisis: When Your iPad Crashes the Airplane
Spilled Coffee or Stolen iPad? Neither Comares to This Nightmare Scenario
iPad Slipping Affects Trim Wheel, Resulting in Emergency Landing for Pilot
Ever dropped your iPad on the cockpit floor? Ever wished it was just a spilled coffee instead? Read on to find out what happens when your trusted flying companion becomes an unwelcome, hazardous obstacle.
Jetsetters’ Emergency Descend
In a chilling narrative, we uncover a NASA ASRS report detailing a jammed trim wheel leading to a harrowing emergency landing. Seasoned crew members navigated a light corporate jet through this crisis.
Upon descent, around 4,000 to 10,000 feet, a "Master Caution" warning lit up with "AP Mistrim" joining the fray. After a quick press of the Master Caution switch, the lights went dark. The Captain, the one steering the plane, disconnected the autopilot and wrestled with the recalcitrant trim wheel, only to find it jammed and unmovable.
In a tense moment, the Captain asked the First Officer -- the non-flying pilot -- to declare an emergency and request ground equipment. The First Officer then followed the checklist, and the Captain landed the aircraft safely on the runway. Upon investigation, the offender was found: an iPad lodged beneath the trim wheel.
Manual Flight Mode, the New Normal
If your trim is stuck, panic not but transfer the flight controls to another pilot (if possible) and scour the cockpit for Foreign Object Debris (FOD). Then, go through your emergency/abnormal checklist before attempting to trim the aircraft. Proceed with caution, as improper trimming can put the aircraft in an unrecoverable state.
To contend with too much nose-up trim, deploy the flaps, which help lower the nose as the aircraft flies at a smaller Angle of Attack (AOA). For too much nose-down trim, adding flaps could inadvertently exacerbate the situation.
The Perils of FOD in the Cockpit
Although FOD is a well-known hazard on runways, few realize the risk it poses within the cockpit. FOD can come from various sources, such as loose items, tools, or even your trusty Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). This iPad, fortunately, did not disable something critical like the elevator or ailerons. Secure storage, like a solid mount or kneeboard, is a safer alternative to holding your iPad freely.
Your Turn, Pilots: Share Your FOD Misadventures
Have you ever faced FOD in the cockpit or a jammed trim system? Let us know in the comments below!
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- The harrowing emergency landing was caused by an iPad lodged beneath the trim wheel, as detailed in a NASA ASRS report.
- Upon receiving the "AP Mistrim" warning, the Captain disconnected the autopilot and wrestled with the jammed trim wheel, ultimately landing the aircraft safely.
- If your trim is stuck, relinquish the flight controls to another pilot if possible, search for Foreign Object Debris (FOD), and follow the emergency/abnormal checklist before attempting to trim the aircraft.
- FOD poses a risk not only on runways but also within the cockpit, often sourcing from loose items, tools, or Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs).
- Secure storage like a solid mount or kneeboard is a safer alternative to holding your iPad freely in the cockpit.
- Share your experiences with Foreign Object Debris in the cockpit or a jammed trim system in the comments below.
