AAIB Bulletin: 8/2016
Cessna 172 Skyhawk · Service Bulletins
Overview
This document is an AAIB Bulletin that provides a correction to previously published information regarding the Cessna 172S Skyhawk, specifically concerning the runway length at Sherlowe Airstrip. It details an incident involving the aircraft G-ENNK and corrects the runway length from 318 meters to 240 meters. Additionally, the bulletin includes critical performance data from the Cessna 172S Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) related to short-field takeoff requirements. This information is essential for pilots operating in similar conditions, ensuring they have accurate data for safe takeoff procedures.
- Correct runway length at Sherlowe Airstrip is 240 m, not 318 m.
- Minimum ground roll for short-field takeoff on dry paved surface is 186 m at 0ºC and 2,200 lb.
- Add 15% to ground roll for dry grass runway, resulting in 214 m minimum required.
- 12% safety margin exists for soft, damp runway conditions.
Document
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Bulletin Correction
The bulletin corrects the previously stated runway length at Sherlowe Airstrip from 318 meters to 240 meters. This correction is crucial for understanding the takeoff performance requirements for the Cessna 172S.
Takeoff Performance Data
The Cessna 172S POH indicates that for a short-field takeoff, the minimum ground roll required from a flat, level, and dry paved surface is 186 meters at 0ºC and 2,200 lb All-Up Weight. When taking off from a dry grass runway, an additional 15% should be added to this figure, resulting in a minimum ground roll of 214 meters.
Safety Margin Analysis
The bulletin highlights that under the conditions described, there was a 12% margin to account for the soft, damp runway conditions, which is critical for pilots to consider when planning takeoffs.
Full document text
67 ©Crown copyright 2016 AAIB Bulletin: 8/2016 G-ENNK EW/G2016/03/08 BULLETIN CORRECTION Aircraft Type and Registration: Cessna 172S Skyhawk, G-ENNK Date & Time (UTC): 31 March 2016 at 606 hrs Location: Sherlowe Airstrip, Shropshire Information Source: Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot AAIB Bulletin No 6/2016, page 62 refers The above Correspondence Report was published in the AAIB Bulletin and was based on information supplied by the pilot. The report, however, gave incorrect information in relation to the runway length at Sherlowe airstrip. Runway 15 at Sherlowe is shown in Pooley’s Flight Guide as being 240 m in length as opposed to the 318 m stated in the Bulletin. So the first paragraph should now read: The pilot was attempting to take off from Sherlowe airstrip, using grass Runway 15 which is approximately 240 m long. The following paragraph should be added after the second paragraph: The Cessna 172S Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) shows that, for a short-field takeoff, the minimum ground roll required to lift off from a flat, level and dry paved surface is 186 m at 0ºC ambient temperature and 2,200 lb All-Up Weight. The POH notes that 15% should be added to the ground roll when operating from a dry grass runway which means that the minimum calculated ground roll is 214 m. There was thus a margin of 12% to offset against the soft, damp runway conditions. The online version of the report was amended on 14 July 2016.
