MART Vol. II MO/MP - NESA - Civil Air Patrol

11.2 Failures and the Error ChainFailures are those of parts and physical objects or how people have failed in their actionsor products.• Mechanical failures involve every possible type of mechanical, part, or environmentalfailure. Examples are aircraft parts, runway surfaces, lighting, radios, and ATC.• Human failures occur when people fail to perform the required actions. When anaircraft part fails because the person making the part didn’t do it right, that is a humanfactors failure. Other examples are failures on the part of the pilot, observer,scanner, and ATC.Error Chain. A series of event links that, when all considered together, cause a mishap.Should any one of the links be “broken” then the mishap will not occur. Here is an exampleof an error chain:• A mechanic does not properly fix aircraft instrumentation during annual,• The pilot gets alerted to fly and, in a rush, gets a poor weather briefing,• The crew misses indications of broken instrument during the preflight inspection,• The pilot enters unexpected (to him) weather and transitions to instrument flying,• Flight instruments give the pilot bad information and he begins to get disoriented,• The disorientation leads to a stall and subsequent spin,• The pilot is unable to recover from the spin and impacts the ground.All of these are links in the chain. If any one of them could have been stopped or the linkbroken, the accident would not have happened. It is up to everyone on a crew to recognizean accident link and break the chain.11.3 Situational AwarenessSimply put, situational awareness (SA) is "knowing what is going on around you at alltimes." SA is not restricted to just pilots -- everyone must exhibit SA at all times. Eachcrewmember must have their SA at peak levels while flying because it takes everyone’sawareness to keep the plane safe in flight. Scanners and observers have their own uniquepositions and functions that require full attention, so their SA is essential to the safe operationof any CAP flight.Examples of good SA attitudes are:• Good mental health, where each crewmember is clear and focused.• Good physical health. This includes fatigue, sickness, hydration, and stress factors.• Attentiveness. Keep your attention on the task at hand.• Inquisitiveness. Always asking questions, challenging ideas, and asking for input.Examples of SA skills:• Professional skills developed through training, practice and experience.• Personal skills such as good communication skills. This is necessary to effectivelyget your point across, or receive valid input. Interpersonal skills such the basiccourtesies factor greatly into how a crew will get along, and this will greatly impactcrew effectiveness and performance.To help prevent a loss of SA, use the IMSAFE guidelines. This checklist was developedfor the FAA as a quick memory guide for aviators to run through and make self-determinationas to their fitness to fly. If a crewmember says yes to any of these, they really shouldn’t fly.207