Interagency Aviation Lessons Learned 25-01: Flight Line Safety

· DOI Office of Aviation Services · 2025

Public domain · DOI Office of Aviation ServicesAviation Safety Documents

Overview

The Interagency Aviation Lessons Learned 25-01: Flight Line Safety () is a public-domain DOI Office of Aviation Services aviation safety document, republished here as a free chaptered HTML edition with a linked table of contents and the official PDF.

Publisher: DOI Office of Aviation Services
Document
Year: 2025
Pages: 1

Key points

The SAFECOM system is designed to share lessons learned and improve aviation safety.
A pilot experienced strong winds that rotated their aircraft 120 degrees after landing and parking.
The peak wind speed reported was 51 knots (58 mph).
It is recommended to chock all three tires and tie down aircraft whenever possible at an FBO.
The incident highlights that unexpected weather conditions can occur even when not forecasted.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of the SAFECOM system?

The SAFECOM system is intended to share lessons learned and provide recommendations to improve aviation safety.

What happened to the aircraft after it was parked?

The aircraft was rotated approximately 120 degrees due to strong winds after being parked.

What was the peak wind speed reported during the incident?

The peak wind speed reported to the control tower was 51 knots (58 mph).

What safety measures are recommended for aircraft parked at an FBO?

It is recommended to chock all three tires and tie down the aircraft whenever possible.

What lesson did the pilot learn from this experience?

The pilot learned that the lack of expected or forecast winds does not guarantee that strong winds will not occur.

Document

OAS-35A (4/18)

Interagency Aviation

Lessons Learned

No. IA LL 25-01 April 16, 2025 Page 1 of 1 Subject: Flight Line Operations Area of Focus: Flight Line Safety Distribution: All Aviation Operations Discussion: One of the primary purposes of the SAFECOM system is to share lessons learned and provide recommendations to improve aviation safety. The following event, taken from SAFECOM 25-0319 , was shared by the pilot.

Here’s the story: Upon completion of a pilot training flight, the pilot landed and taxied to the local Fixed Base Operator (FBO). They were marshaled into the parking area by line personnel and shutdown. The aircraft was "chocked" on the left main tire, the parking brake released, and the nose wheel linkage pin removed in the event the aircraft needed to be repositioned later by line personnel. A short time later, a cold front passed through the area resulting in strong winds and other inclement weather. While debriefing the flight inside the FBO, the pilot was informed that the wind rotated the aircraft approximately 120 degrees. Additionally, the Cessna Caravan that was parked next to the aircraft, rotated 75-80 degrees.

Fortunately, the aircraft did not collide with each other.

The aircrew ran out to the aircraft to ensure the ramp personnel chocked all three wheels. They also conducted a thorough external inspection to confirm there was no damage. The reported peak wind speed reported to the control tower was 51 kts (58 mph).

This event is an important lesson learned by both the FBO line personnel and the aircrew. The lack of expected or forecast winds does not guarantee it won’t happen. The pilot said that the SOP to ensure all three tires are chocked and have the aircraft tied down whenever possible when operating from a FBO will be incorporated into their Flight Operations Guide.

Thanks to the pilot for sharing his experience and providing the lessons he learned so that others will benefit!

/s/ Keith C. Raley /s/ Lori Clark Keith C. Raley Lori Clark Chief, Aviation Safety, Training, Program Branch Chief - Aviation Safety Management Evaluation, and Quality Management Systems DOI, Office of Aviation Services USDA, Forest Service