Implications?

[Fin]

As a pilot, I''m aware that there are a few elementry tasks that I''m allowed to perfrom on a helicopter.

What happens if I step outside these bounds? Lets say I change out a transponder or fiddle with flight controls. Now I know this is really stupid, but lets say I had the type of personality that led me to believe these actions were ok, and that these stupid rules are made by stupid people and they don''t apply to me. How much trouble can I get in?

What if I get caught leaving a tire pump in the broom closet? Nothing bad happens, this time.

However, there is always a next time and when there is, the result is a crash. Would it, or would it not be, a good idea to prosicute me? And does legislation even allow for this?

The problem is even worse if I still don''t see anything wrong, right? What about next time?

 

[VERTICAL REF]

...imagine yourself standing infront of twelve of your peers... nuff said.

 

[CTD]

Interesting question, I assume you're posing it as a hypothetically - at least I hope you are.

Of course there are regulations governing this - CARS are full of them, as well they should be. You also expose yourself to civil and criminal liabilities outside CARS if something goes pear-shaped.

Your analogy of the transponder vs. flight controls is interesting. Basically the same as asking "is stealing a car more against the law than stealing a gas barbeque?"

"...these stupid rules are made by stupid people and they don't apply to me"

Thankfully, this one usually takes care of itself with remarkable Darwinian efficiency, either via tragic means, or no longer being considered employable. I know some good examples of both. The fact is, this trait is called 'invincibility' (not to be confused with healthy ego or confidence) and is not very common in aviation.

 

[helicopper]

CARs are the LEAST of your worries... section 220 of the criminal code comes immediately to mind... "Cause Death by Criminal Negligence" (maximum LIFE imprisonment)

 

[MagSeal]

If you go beyond your scope of elementary maintenance, you have effectively put your C of A out of force. No C of A = no insurance. Thats why many companies try to properly train the pilots and apprentices to the maximum they can, so that their scope of work is somewhat expanded. But you can''t go too far obviously. A line needs to be drawn where it''s safe for everyone, some guys might well be intelligent enough to do more, but others may not. If you understand what I''m trying to say.

 

[VERTICAL REF]

well said...

 

[CTD]

Ahhh thanks Helicopper - not having my copy of Martin''s handy, I couldn''t quote the number. 220 it is...Cheers...

 

[cap]

Helicopper ---- there''s no such thing as Life imprisonment in Canada, as it''s only 25 years. That is seldom given out as you know and you are more likely to hear, "Life imprisonment with no chance of parole for ten (10) years". I consider that expression an oxymoron.

Fin ---- all stated is true. By the same token, if I''m out in the middle of Prince Patrick Island in the Arctic and I have a A/F fuel filter light at -25C, that filter will get changed (providing I have my trusty belt on). If that happens in Peace River, AB well then I''ll have to call the mechanical partner. Point being, that you can make all the rules you want, but you can''t legislate ''common sense''. If you don''t have that, then all the ability in the world and a whole bunch of rules aren''t going to make much difference in how long you live.

 

[helicopper]

rog on the oxymoron, for sure cap! (sadly)

 

[Fin]

Unfortunately, I''m not speaking hypothetically. And I speak not of myself.

 

[Heedm]

Breaking of rules happens all the time. Sometimes it's illegal, sometimes it's illegal but with effective risk management. The difference is the ones who do effective risk management have lots of information behind them.

You must know:
- the rule you are breaking.
- the legal consequences of breaking the rule.
- a full understanding of the systems you're monkeying with.
- an appreciation of what would happen if you did/didn't break this rule.

Fiddle with a transponder: can't quote any rules, but if the airspace you're flying in doesn't require a transponder and it's not on a MEL, then you may only have to answer to whomever fixes your mess.

Adjust flight controls: comprising CofA. This action could easily endanger you, your pax, and the aircraft. I'd be leery of going this route. For one thing, if the aircraft doesn't require the "tweak" but could definitely use one, then isn't it airworthy before the tweak but not after?

Replacing fuel filter: comprimising CofA, but if the lack of action endangers you, your crew, and your pax, then not doing anything could be the wrong thing.


After saying all that, in this day of satellite communications and polar high fliers, big decisions don't necessarily have to be made by small players (not trying to step on any egos here...I'm one of the small players).

The other thing to consider is to not wait for this situation to arise and then make this decision in the field. Plan on breaking where there's no approved facility and decide the course of action prior to going there.

 

[CTD]

Excellent points. As Heedm and cap suggest, we''ve all cut lockwire for chip detectors, changed filters or ignitors in the middle of Baffin Island. Illegal, but....

On the other side of the coin, I know of a case where a company (now defunct) would direct a young pilot (now deceased) to change starter/generators and other vital components, and mail the logbook back to base for signatures. How stupid is that?

Anyway, back to your point, Fin. If I''m reading you correctly, you are bothered by this happening around you, and would like to do something about it (advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn''t). Problem is, you''ll be seen as a ''rat'' or something...am I close?

Story time.

A lady is taking a shuttle bus to the airport, on the way to see her grandchildren. She is sitting directly behind the bus driver, who is driving like an idiot - running stop signs, passing in illegal zones, you name it. The lady is terrified. All she can think of is that the bus will have an accident and she''ll never see her grandchildren again. This continues for another 10 minutes and the lady is shaking, she''s so scared. Finally, a guy in the back stands up and walks to the front, and says to the bus driver "Listen bud, we''re not in that much of a hurry here, would you mind slowing it down and driving a little more smoothly please?" The driver is quite taken back - nobody has ever spoken up before. He slows down and starts to drive normally, much to the relief of everyone aboard.

If you look at this story, it would be easy to conclude that the lady felt it was more important not embarrass the bus driver, than to never see her grand children again. This is ridiculous, of course, but why didn''t she speak up? How difficult is it to ask a guy to slow down?

We all tend to avoid this type of confrontation, it''s human nature. Nobody wants to be a ''tattle-tale'', and most of the time, this policy works just fine. You''re not going to call in the cops because every day at 6AM, your neighbour coasts through the stop sign at the end of your deserted street on his way to work.

Fin, if you believe this guy is a danger to himself and others, you have three choices.
- Do nothing and maybe he''ll stop - and hope he doesn''t kill someone else in the mean time.
- Talk to him yourself - sometimes, if people know how their actions look to others, they stop.
- Get a higher authority involved - chief pilot, ops manager, owner, TC, police, depending on the severity of the violations.

Sorry to rag on...Good luck.

 

[Elvis]

Fin is it possible that the person you are commenting about will read this and put 2 & 2 together?

 

[Fin]

CTD: Close. I''ll take option #2 and I didn''t taken as ragging.
Elvis: Highly doubt it.

 

[4961]

Hey Fin, good luck with your situation. It''s not fair that you''re put into spot that you now have to deal with, infact unprofessional is more the word. Think of this (and I''m sure you have) The next time that you strap on a machine that this person has flown before you, are you going to feel good about it? If the answer is no, then you owe it to yourself to act, and if you step on some toes doing it, that''s their problem not yours.