Deathtrap MU-2 BANNED

[A Squared]

heheh, not really, I'm just stirring the pot.


http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/717-full.html#193170

Congressman Wants MU-2 Banned

A Denver television station says Colorado Democratic Rep. Tom Tancredo plans to introduce a bill that would ban the Mitsubishi MU-2 from U.S. airspace until the FAA does a full safety review of the aircraft. Tancredo has also written the president suggesting that FAA Administrator Marion Blakey and NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker be fired over their "failure to act responsibly for hundreds of deaths." Tancredo became interested in the MU-2 after back-to-back crashes of the speedy twin at Centennial Airport, which is in his district. Two crashes in Florida in recent weeks prompted his latest tirade. In December 2005, the FAA performed a safety review of the aircraft, and earlier this year, the FAA said it would require enhanced training for MU-2 pilots but stopped short of requiring a type rating. A Mitsubishi official says the extra training will help. "We've seen overseas, when these training programs go into effect, the accident rates plummet," Scott Sobel told the Walton Sun. Sobel was commenting to reporters about a crash near DeFuniak Springs, Fla., which killed pilot Hardy "Buddy" Head, who family and friends say was a very experienced MU-2 pilot who had trained others on the airplane for Mitsubishi. His daughter, Alexus Purdy, told the Sun that no one in her family believes pilot error caused the crash. Sobel insisted the aircraft is safe but its widespread use as a cargo hauler might be increasing its accident rate because, according to the paper, "cargo pilots have a tendency to fly when they're tired -- at night or in bad weather."

Discuss........

 

[The_Russian]

They should at least apply aircraft specific training of some form (REQ) to the MU2!

 

[Fearless Tower]

My low-time thoughts are:

From everything I've ever read about the MU-2, it certainly seems like a widow maker....basically it sounds like an airplane that is very Japanese in that it is fine as long as everything is going as planned, but as soon as something happens out of the ordinary (like losing an engine), all hell breaks loose.

Now, every time I see an MU-2 on the ground or in the air, I wonder....who in their right mind would purchase such an airplane when there are so many alternatives???

I also wonder about the role of insurance companies in this whole situation. If the airplane is truly as dangerous as what we read, why do insurance companies still underwrite the thing? It would seem that if the accident rate is as bad as we think it is, that no one in their right mind would be able to afford to insure the bloody thing. In theory, the market should control itself.....but it hasn't. What gives?

 

[TimsKeeper]

have patience, the truth will come.....

All will be clear when you are >100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WabiSabi]

It would seem that if the accident rate is as bad as we think it is, that no one in their right mind would be able to afford to insure the bloody thing. In theory, the market should control itself.....but it hasn't. What gives?

The idea of a purely "free market", like communism, only works in theory. History has shown that market forces alone cannot regulate or control itself. It must be regulated by government.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

All will be clear when you are >100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonderfull response! Arogance and totally thought free!
Well done!!

CE

 

[Learsforsale]

There is a very good write up about the MU-2 in this month's Twin & Turbine magazine. It talks a lot about how if you try and use light piston twin engine-out procedures in an MU-2, things can get real bad real fast.

I have sat right seat on a couple of MU-2 rides, and it was an absolute blast. But the one thing that amazed me was the fact that someone with a brand spankin' new multi ticket (me at the time) can just hop into the left seat and fly that beast.

 

[Rally]

Most of my right mind tells me that the MU-2 requires alternative procedures then any other twin engine aircraft when the ***t hits the fan.

The other side of mind says that maybe there is something wierd happening that we don't know about? There just seems to be way to many wierd crashes because of a simple engine failure. Many of these people did this EVERY day probably practiced it MANY times yes still a somewhat routine emergency causes the airplane to go out of control from even recoverable altitudes. I'm not saying its not a safe airplane, I don't know however maybe, just maybe the current training does'nt plan for the worst case scenerio.

 

[wrxpilot]

Here's an interesting article about the MU-2:
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:42BXTOifwU4J:www.northernjetsales.com/mu2_news.htm+saab+business+aircraft+preview+centennial&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=10

 

[sidesaddle]

My 2 cents is that Mitsubishi officials should not use the word "accident" and "plummet" in the same sentence when discussing the MU-2, although I imagine it is hard not to.