who can 'ground' an aircraft?

[Guest pokey]

this should be a good one !

[PhrogGuy]

The maintainer who finds a downing discrepancy, the maintenance contoller who has too many Maintenance Actions on one aircraft or a discrepancy in the mainenance documentation, the QA rep or CDI for finding shoddy work, Maintenance Admin who finds the wrong part installed on an A/C. Long story short, almost anyone involved in the maintenance and flying process.

[pilot#476398]

The pilot if he finds something unairworthy.

The mechanic if he can't find that new part just yet.

The lessor if the lessee hasn't made his lease payments in a while.

The FAA if they find out it hasn't met its required inspections.

The tower if they decide suddenly to close down the airport.

The President if he's in town and you're under the TFR.

The fuel guy if he goes on strike

God if he puts a thunderstorm right above you.

A really high DA and passengers so heavy you can't even get light on th skids.

Gremlins who short out your mags 1000' over Miami.

Carb ice,...I knew I forgot something on that pre landing check.

Edited April 5, 2013 by pilot#476398

[Velocity173]

Pilot, mechanic, or anyone responsible for operational control of the aircraft.

[apiaguy]

For a part 91 operated aircraft I don't see how a pilot could "ground" an aircraft. He could determine it is not airworthy for his flight but another pilot could easily contest that and fly away. What wording would a pilot be able to make on the logs that would "ground" it. I'm sure some example is possible I don't think it is practical nor does it happen

Edited April 6, 2013 by apiaguy

[pilot#476398]

For a part 91 operated aircraft I don't see how a pilot could "ground" an aircraft. He could determine it is not airworthy for his flight but another pilot could easily contest that and fly away. What wording would a pilot be able to make on the logs that would "ground" it. I'm sure some example is possible I don't think it is practical nor does it happen

 

I fly part 91.

 

I once found and alternator belt that was "obviously" damaged. I also noticed once no oil in the main rotor gear box sight gage! I suppose the next pilot could have brushed it off and flown, but he'd have been a fool to!

 

I suppose I could have written in the logs that there was no visible oil in the gear box sight gage therefore I could not tell if there was any oil in the main rotor gear box? I decided not to fly that day, but as you stated there's always the next guy who will say, oh' that's fine they just put oil in yesterday, and go fly,...which he did!

 

As for the alternator belt, the previous pilot had already noted it and the aircraft was grounded, they just forgot to tell me that I was in the other ship now!

 

I went to do a night flight once and a position light was out, but I guess in that case I didn't ground the aircraft, the regs did.

 

Maybe we pilots don't have the authority to ground an aircraft beyond our flight, but if I see something that I think is unairworthy, and you still go fly (and something goes drastically wrong) good luck defending your decision to fly,...if you make it out alive that is!

[Velocity173]

You have the authority to "ground" an aircraft IAW 91.7. You're PIC, it's up to you to determine if it's airworthy. Just because the mechanical, structural or electrical item isn't spelled out in black and white in the owner's manual or FARs doesn't necessarily mean the aircraft is airworthy. You determine that.

 

A mech may not sign off an annual because the owner didn't comply with all applicable ADs. In essence the FAA is grounding it because of noncompliance but the mech is still the one who won't sign off the aircraft to be in an "airworthy condition." Also in a commercial operation with required maintenance inspections, if one is not done or awaiting parts the mech can ground it again.

 

Operational control. My company has a higher echelon that has operational control over my aircraft. If there is a safety stand down due to an accident, they could very well ground the fleet until determining the cause of the accident. If the FAA informs them that they aren't compliant with some sort of procedure or rule then they could send out word again grounding all aircraft.

 

So you have several ways of grounding an aircraft.

[avbug]

Anyone can ground the aircraft.

[apiaguy]

No one but the FAA can ground the aircraft

[apiaguy]

I just wanted to disagree

[aeroscout]

No one but the FAA can ground the aircraft

You have moved the ball, but not as far as I will. No one can ground an aircraft. With avbug at everyone, take the 2 answers, average them and you get half the people can ground an aircraft.

[Guest pokey]

aaaaaaaaaand daaaaaaah winnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaah of daaah kewpieeee doll izzz: apiaguy ! ! !

[Guest pokey]

pllot 476398 has some great answers too ! i have a few more:

 

the rat that chewed thru your throttle cable

your wife that says you are not home enough

the oil companies who keep raising the cost of fuel

and for all of us piston operators--the end of 100LL

 

edit, just because

Edited April 6, 2013 by pokey

[MLH]

Law enforcement.

 

Guy landed his Enstrom in a cul de sac, police showed up and asked if he was having problems, he responded that he was visiting a friend. Officer said he would be back in ten minutes and if the aircraft was still there it would have to leave on a truck.

 

It left on a truck.

[ridethisbike]

Law enforcement.

 

Guy landed his Enstrom in a cul de sac, police showed up and asked if he was having problems, he responded that he was visiting a friend. Officer said he would be back in ten minutes and if the aircraft was still there it would have to leave on a truck.

 

It left on a truck.

Well that guy was an idiot..

[pilot#476398]

Law enforcement.

 

Guy landed his Enstrom in a cul de sac, police showed up and asked if he was having problems, he responded that he was visiting a friend. Officer said he would be back in ten minutes and if the aircraft was still there it would have to leave on a truck.

 

It left on a truck.

 

So it seems stupidity can ground an aircraft!

 

Having any problems? Yeah, a warning light came on and I just needed to check it out.

[avbug]

A red tag on your aircraft will ground it. A component which has been reported unairworthy is not airworthy until it's been inspected and released. Write up an aircraft and it's grounded.

 

The FAA can ground an aircraft, but so can I, and I've done just that more than a few times.

 

Anyone can move an aircraft that's unairworthy, but they also face the penalties for having done so, which can range from certificate action to death, depending on the nature of what made the aircraft unairworthy.

 

Anyone can ground the aircraft, and it need not be the owner/operator, pilot, or crew.

 

It's for the same reason and using the same rationale that all airlines have operations specifications and statements in their operations manuals spelling out the fact that anyone recognizing a safety issue can put a stop to operations, and pull the plug. We see the same thing in government operations. Who has the authority to stop operations for a safety concern? Anyone observing the safety concern.

 

Same for grounding an aircraft.

[Guest pokey]

A red tag on your aircraft will ground it. A component which has been reported unairworthy is not airworthy until it's been inspected and released. Write up an aircraft and it's grounded.

 

The FAA can ground an aircraft, but so can I, and I've done just that more than a few times.

 

Anyone can move an aircraft that's unairworthy, but they also face the penalties for having done so, which can range from certificate action to death, depending on the nature of what made the aircraft unairworthy.

 

Anyone can ground the aircraft, and it need not be the owner/operator, pilot, or crew.

 

It's for the same reason and using the same rationale that all airlines have operations specifications and statements in their operations manuals spelling out the fact that anyone recognizing a safety issue can put a stop to operations, and pull the plug. We see the same thing in government operations. Who has the authority to stop operations for a safety concern? Anyone observing the safety concern.

 

Same for grounding an aircraft.

 

red tag,, good one, maybe for some specific operations manuals, but not in general aviation.

 

What gives you the authority to ground an aircraft? I have been A&P and IA and pilot for 25 years and have seen my share of the FAR's and CFR's, but i must have missed this one, please inform me so i can get out my red tags and go merrily about grounding aircraft. Unless you are an FAA airworthiness inspector, i humbly apoligize for my ignorance.

[avbug]

If the aircraft is unairworthy, it's grounded, period.

 

Yes, I absolutely can ground an aircraft, as can you. Do I do that? No, as a rule, not.

 

It's not to say I haven't.

 

Several years ago I landed in San Diego one night. While walking across the ramp, I happened to notice a gear door on a Piaggio that was out of place. I took a closer look, and noted that it had failed in such a way that they were likely to lose the door at the next retraction. It would have been easy enough to keep walking, but I didn't do that. I determined who was flying the aircraft, contacted them, and arrangements were made to have a mechanic, door, and parts available before the next departure.

 

I did not red tag the aircraft (I don't carry them around with me). The aircraft was, however, grounded until the repairs were done. Once notified of an unairworthy condition, the airworthiness certificate is no longer valid until the aircraft has been brought into compliance and the paperwork is done. Anyone who flies it during that time places themselves in legal (and possible physical) jeopardy.

 

Once an item has been identified, it needs to be handled. Particularly if that's in writing.

 

Think about it. You see a note taped to the fuselage advising of an observed unsafe condition. You don't know who else has been notified or what documentation has been done. You're going to operate that aircraft? Fool you.

 

I wouldn't. It's grounded until the matter has been resolved.

[Guest pokey]

i would love to see that regulation

 

 

you have the authority to "notice and report" an airworthiness issue,, you have no authority to ground that aircraft

Edited April 8, 2013 by pokey

[JDHelicopterPilot]

In Part 135 operations a pilot can write up a discrepancy in the MX log book. Said aircraft can not legally fly until it is cleared. It can be cleared or deferred by a mechanic. A pilot can also defer something. Deferring a maintenance issue is done using the GOM and MEL for that aircraft.

 

My opinion, when a discrepancy is written up in this case, the aircraft is grounded until it is repaired or deferred.

[avbug]

You are correct.

[Guest pokey]

and when the engine is removed from aircraft it is also grounded

[CharyouTree]

and when the engine is removed from aircraft it is also grounded

Or soon will be, if the aircraft and engine part ways during flight.

[avbug]

You want a quick way to ground an aircraft, remove the registration or airworthiness certificates. Done. It's grounded.

 

However, if the aircraft isn't airworthy (doesn't meet type certification as ammended and associated documentation) and/or isn't safe for flight, and if all repairs, modifications, maintenance, procedures, etc, haven't bee properly documented, then the airworthiness certificate isn't valid, and it's really no different than removing the certificate from the aircraft. It's grounded. Identification of any one of those things grounds the aircraft, and the person who operates it is in legal jeopardy.