Former NTSB Chief Calls for Grounding of Turboprop Planes in Wake of Buffalo Crash
A former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman has called for the grounding of all turboprop planes similar to the one involved in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Buffalo last Thursday.
Jim Hall, who served as the chairman of the NTSB from 1994 to 2001 said that the Federal Aviation Administration should “ground all aircraft of this type until the NTSB investigation is completed”. Hall was speaking in reference to speculation that the turboprop plane that crashed into a Buffalo home had ice build up on its wings prior to the crash.
Ice accumulation on a plane, especially on the wings, often occurs in small planes that fly at lower altitudes. Such ice accumulation can cause problems with the lift of the plane, causing the plane to stall. Even a light smattering of snow can be sufficient to disrupt air flow over a plane’s wings. Aviation experts believe that turboprop planes are more prone to the dangers of ice build up because their de-icing systems are not as effective as the ones used on larger jets. The NTSB has issued several safety alerts cautioning pilots about the dangers of icing. Another problem that turboprop planes face is ice accumulation on the aircraft's wings and tail; such ice build up can cause the plane to suddenly nosedive.
According to Hall, turboprops have a tendency to be less safe, especially while flying in icy conditions, because they tend to fly at lower speeds than large jets. This makes it easy for ice to collect on the wings. Hall also criticized the old de-icing technology that exists on these smaller planes. Turboprop planes are equipped with inflatable de-icing "boots" to get rid of ice, and the system, he believes, is not as effective as the heated wing systems commonly used in large jetliners.
The FAA, however, defended the record of the Q400 Bombardier aircraft and said that there are no reasons to ground the planes. Meanwhile, representatives of the major airlines, Delta, United and American, have not yet confirmed whether they will be reconsidering the use of turboprop planes in icy conditions.
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