Clueless CFI

[Maria]

Anyone have any leads on NTSB's O&Os, FAA Cases, and the like for how the FAA treats a CFI that just won't get a clue?

He just allowed a student to run a tank dry claiming that the student needed the lesson. The engine stopped, of course, but that was at 30 feet after takeoff. His statements on frequency don't support his 'allowing' the student anything, he was completely surprised.

This guy has had multiple encounters with the FAA in the past and just keeps coming back. It's never his fault, he never could have prevented the problem, the student was PIC, the FAA was just being mean to him, blah blah blah.

Yeah, I could just walk away. I know what it's like to have the FAA after you. But this guy defies description. If the engine had quit 30 seconds later, I probably would have watched a fatal accident. They didn't put the nose down until almost too late.

???!!!

 

[jumppilot]

Anyone have any leads on NTSB's O&Os, FAA Cases, and the like for how the FAA treats a CFI that just won't get a clue?

He just allowed a student to run a tank dry claiming that the student needed the lesson. The engine stopped, of course, but that was at 30 feet after takeoff. His statements on frequency don't support his 'allowing' the student anything, he was completely surprised.

This guy has had multiple encounters with the FAA in the past and just keeps coming back. It's never his fault, he never could have prevented the problem, the student was PIC, the FAA was just being mean to him, blah blah blah.

Yeah, I could just walk away. I know what it's like to have the FAA after you. But this guy defies description. If the engine had quit 30 seconds later, I probably would have watched a fatal accident. They didn't put the nose down until almost too late.

???!!!

Well, if you really think this guy is a problem, then call the FAA (local FSDO) and tell them what you just told us, and say the words, "he is a risk to his students, himself and the public".

That'll get their attention.

 

[EagleRJ]

Does he really think you will believe he was able to time the exact moment the tank would run dry to make a point with the student? He either shut the fuel valve off (depending on the type of plane he was in), or he plain forgot to switch tanks himself.
If he intentionally allowed the student to run the tank dry, there's an obvious problem with his judgement and his ability to be a safe and effective instructor. There are limits to the Law of Intensity!

I would talk to him yourself, and have other instructors do the same. If he really is a renegade, that's the first thing you should do to try and correct his behavior. If that doesn't do it, it might be necessary to involve the FAA. Make sure several instructors approach the feds together, so they don't think it's just one person with a vendetta against him.

Do something soon! This instructor sounds like someone we'll be reading about in an NTSB report before long.

 

[SloDoDriver]

The Chief Flight Instructor or FBO manager should be taking care of it....Unfortunately it will take the guy a while to figure out he should be selling used cars...

 

[jumppilot]

I would talk to him yourself, and have other instructors do the same.
QUOTE]


Agreed. I figured by your profile (time, etc) you knew this, but as EagleRJ said, approach him first. Involve the FAA as a last resort!

Don't screw his career just because he is stupid now. Maybe a good convo could cure him.

 

[pilot_guy]

The guy should be smarter than that...

There's no excuse for that. This isn't Driver's Ed. He's a CFI, which means he's supposed to have some snap. If it was a mistake, then it was negligence. Before anyone jumps my case, remember, that's why we have checklists, and we're supposed to be using them! The one thing that was stressed to me over everything was to use my checklist.

If he did it on purpose, then he's an idiot. Idiots don't belong on the road, much less in the air.

Drop a dime on him.

 

[minitour]

There's no excuse for that. This isn't Driver's Ed. He's a CFI, which means he's supposed to have some snap. If it was a mistake, then it was negligence. Before anyone jumps my case, remember, that's why we have checklists, and we're supposed to be using them! The one thing that was stressed to me over everything was to use my checklist.

If he did it on purpose, then he's an idiot. Idiots don't belong on the road, much less in the air.

Drop a dime on him.

I agree...

If the engine quit 30' after takeoff...wow...what if it was a short strip?
What if it quit 500' after takeoff? You certainly aren't getting back to the runway...

Sounds like he put himself, his student, people on the ground, and other people flying into/out of the airport at risk with that stunt.

I agree that students need to know its bad to let a tank run dry, but how about this for a lesson plan on fuel starvation:
1. Top it off
2. Time it out
3. Don't be a dumbass

If they really want to see how bad it is, put 'em on flight sim with little fuel and let them buzz around the pattern a few times...made the point for me anyway.

Not sure I'd involve the FAA yet, but definitely him and the FBO/Airport managers. So maybe he's a crappy instructor...I'm sure there's more than a few out there. Perhaps he's just a "time builder" who doesn't care about getting students to proficiency. Without knowing his story it's tough to make a decision on what/who to be talking to. With any luck he'll be a flap and gear bi*ch soon and won't be teaching anyone anything for a while.

Good luck!

-mini

 

[Uncle Sparky]

There's no excuse for that. This isn't Driver's Ed. He's a CFI, which means he's supposed to have some snap. If it was a mistake, then it was negligence. Before anyone jumps my case, remember, that's why we have checklists, and we're supposed to be using them! The one thing that was stressed to me over everything was to use my checklist.

If he did it on purpose, then he's an idiot. Idiots don't belong on the road, much less in the air.

Drop a dime on him.

I'm usually the first one to say that "most CFI's are merely students themselves". In this case though, it sounds more like an integrity issue than an experience issue. His personality and maturity just may not be suited to the profession.

The Chief Flight Instructor or FBO manager should be taking care of it

Ditto......this sounds like it's well beyond the, "....just between us CFI's.... " pep talk, stage.