Dear Auntie ABC.
Herewith a puzzle; noted in proceedings was a statement which ran something like "the Maintenance Release was in Robinson's cottage and his Mum was reluctant to part with it"? WTH? WHY?? That MR and any other document required aboard should have been returned to the base office, kept under lock and key: not in the hospital or Mum's place or, the pilots quarters. That statement, stand alone demands some 'deep and meaningful' questions and reasonable answers. Truth would be a fine thing........However:-
The podcast 'The Case of. - Croc Wrangler is a good one, nicely done. 'We' thought, that perhaps, a little more detail may assist with background to the case you are covering. Most of the following good reporting comes from 'The Australian' and provides some insight and background to the fatal event which claimed Wilson.
This post - HERE - is long, but work through it, there are some 'intriguing' insights; which underscore the subject matter in the trial you are reviewing. They provide pertinent background from the public domain. The posts following - HERE - are worth the time taken to read; well, in our collective opinion they are. Couple of quotes from the OZ as an appetiser:-
The Australian "The Civil Aviation Safety Authority had investigated scores of incidents involving celebrity croc-wrangler Matt Wright and his company Helibrook in the decade preceding the fatal chopper crash that killed Netflix star Chris Wilson."
A Maintenance Release (MR) is a very important document, with very real legal connotations. The document itself is almost indestructible; the information within is absolutely vital to 'safety'; both legally and operationally; that cannot be overstated.
The Australian "Wright told CASA that he was alone when it happened and that the helicopter’s Maintenance Release – where flying time is recorded – had floated away".
But, the least of the MR purposes relates to pilot flying time; there are many more essential items which the MR covers. Parts 'in- service' time, for example. The Maintenance Controller (MC) has on record the 'life' limit or inspection/ rectification/ redundant/ repair schedule for all essential parts. For example; a 'starter' motor may have been on a shelf for while, but with some time to run (a spare). Then, should an aircraft fitted motor develop a fault - the 'spare' may fitted. This may run out of cycles before the next scheduled aircraft service, or not. It's a complex system. The MC decides: leave it in and run down the 'time' and then overhaul it/ replace it with the original. This is why 'time in service and cycle' are critical safety elements The MC has a very important role; but cannot work the system without accurate data - hence the humble Hobbs meter.
Same - same for many other parts, and there are many within the aircraft. Some of which are on 'different' time in service limits. This is why a honest MC is an essential person. But even the best can't register 'operational' hours without a Hobbs reading. The MR 'total' of operated (flight) hours dictate when parts must be replaced and serviced- and must be accurately and honestly completed at the days working end (not whenever or never).
Pilot's 'logged' flight hours should reflect the MR time in service noted; those logged hours will always be more than the aircraft TIS, as the aircraft time 'starts' at a different point to the pilot's time. A typical example of pilot flight time would reflect perhaps between 0.1 to 0.5 hrs more than the aircraft TTIS, for an operated sector. In short, at say Sydney with start up to take off there may be 20 (or more) minutes of taxi or standing time, before starting the aircraft clock. And so:- for pilots, there is 'Duty time limit' & Flight time 'limits' from the 'tech log. For the aircraft it is TIS - full stop.
The quest for the pilot's log becomes only of value for maintenance purposes; and only IF everyone who flew the aircraft logged their flight time - in their log books. Good luck with that....You pays your money and takes your pick, but; its 'Hobson's Choice'..
Hope this helps with the fog.
Toot - toot..
Herewith a puzzle; noted in proceedings was a statement which ran something like "the Maintenance Release was in Robinson's cottage and his Mum was reluctant to part with it"? WTH? WHY?? That MR and any other document required aboard should have been returned to the base office, kept under lock and key: not in the hospital or Mum's place or, the pilots quarters. That statement, stand alone demands some 'deep and meaningful' questions and reasonable answers. Truth would be a fine thing........However:-
The podcast 'The Case of. - Croc Wrangler is a good one, nicely done. 'We' thought, that perhaps, a little more detail may assist with background to the case you are covering. Most of the following good reporting comes from 'The Australian' and provides some insight and background to the fatal event which claimed Wilson.
This post - HERE - is long, but work through it, there are some 'intriguing' insights; which underscore the subject matter in the trial you are reviewing. They provide pertinent background from the public domain. The posts following - HERE - are worth the time taken to read; well, in our collective opinion they are. Couple of quotes from the OZ as an appetiser:-
The Australian "The Civil Aviation Safety Authority had investigated scores of incidents involving celebrity croc-wrangler Matt Wright and his company Helibrook in the decade preceding the fatal chopper crash that killed Netflix star Chris Wilson."
A Maintenance Release (MR) is a very important document, with very real legal connotations. The document itself is almost indestructible; the information within is absolutely vital to 'safety'; both legally and operationally; that cannot be overstated.
The Australian "Wright told CASA that he was alone when it happened and that the helicopter’s Maintenance Release – where flying time is recorded – had floated away".
But, the least of the MR purposes relates to pilot flying time; there are many more essential items which the MR covers. Parts 'in- service' time, for example. The Maintenance Controller (MC) has on record the 'life' limit or inspection/ rectification/ redundant/ repair schedule for all essential parts. For example; a 'starter' motor may have been on a shelf for while, but with some time to run (a spare). Then, should an aircraft fitted motor develop a fault - the 'spare' may fitted. This may run out of cycles before the next scheduled aircraft service, or not. It's a complex system. The MC decides: leave it in and run down the 'time' and then overhaul it/ replace it with the original. This is why 'time in service and cycle' are critical safety elements The MC has a very important role; but cannot work the system without accurate data - hence the humble Hobbs meter.
Same - same for many other parts, and there are many within the aircraft. Some of which are on 'different' time in service limits. This is why a honest MC is an essential person. But even the best can't register 'operational' hours without a Hobbs reading. The MR 'total' of operated (flight) hours dictate when parts must be replaced and serviced- and must be accurately and honestly completed at the days working end (not whenever or never).
Pilot's 'logged' flight hours should reflect the MR time in service noted; those logged hours will always be more than the aircraft TIS, as the aircraft time 'starts' at a different point to the pilot's time. A typical example of pilot flight time would reflect perhaps between 0.1 to 0.5 hrs more than the aircraft TTIS, for an operated sector. In short, at say Sydney with start up to take off there may be 20 (or more) minutes of taxi or standing time, before starting the aircraft clock. And so:- for pilots, there is 'Duty time limit' & Flight time 'limits' from the 'tech log. For the aircraft it is TIS - full stop.
The quest for the pilot's log becomes only of value for maintenance purposes; and only IF everyone who flew the aircraft logged their flight time - in their log books. Good luck with that....You pays your money and takes your pick, but; its 'Hobson's Choice'..
Hope this helps with the fog.
Toot - toot..