Niko, 100% correct decision. Bravo. I was in a similar situation years ago in Cessna Golden Eagle, my boss was captain, I was first officer. At 24,000 we lost cabin heat, had low oil pressure and high EGT on starboard engine. Weather ahead was not good, meaning single engine operation would be very difficult if the engine failed. My boss wanted to press on. I insisted we return to base. He later thanked me. Remember, there are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.
You broke the chain of "get there itis" that kills so many GA pilots. Nicely done. I'm sure there was a lot of personal, and probably family and friends, "pressure" for you to arrive at a certain time. I'm ATC and a private pilot and teach a lot about "breaking the chain" of bad decision making which you handled so well. Turks & Caicos can wait!! Your family should be very proud as am I.
He broke the chain and they still got there later, and probably had a great time. A good lesson, it's not the end of the world if you have to turn around, but it is if you have to pull the chute over the ocean.
I never get tired of seeing how the systems come together to respond to an emergency. It makes me proud of our responders every time. Thank you for the awesome video!
With family onboard and over water.... after a second failed ATC contact attempt failed, my first thought was to squawk 7700 and make a 180. You stayed cool and perfectly navigated this true emergency. Well done!
you made the best decision possible. You had the responsibility of family on board and not to mention the lives on the ground if your aircraft was to go down. You remained very calm, articulate and mindful despite the thousands of thoughts and emotions that must run through your mind. God bless you and again you're a fantastic pilot and I would fly with you any day.
Good pilot, you made me relive my father's elevator cable break one final approach in a Ultralight Experimental 50 feet above the ground when I was 12 years old (2001). My father's elevator started feeling weird and he climbed to 1000 feet for caps deployment after we got to hanover PA (23 miles away) we turned around and came back to Keymar, MD My father had read about it happening to someone else about 2 weeks earlier and already had it in his mind. On final approach, the final sliver of cable snapped and we started diving, my father used the elevator trim full blast and it leveled us out enough for us to smash into the ground destroying our landing gear but making it out alive. Thanks for keeping a level head and being clearly researched and well trained. :)
Nice calm job of flying sir. I know it seemed like a lot of fuss regarding the emergency service but as a firefighter of 10 years and a Sheriff's investigator for another 20 I can tell you that it is always a matter of better safe than sorry when it comes to any incident with possible life involved. It is alway better to be overly cautious and have all the help one could muster their and ready than to have no one there when suddenly the help is needed fast. I was really impressed with how calm you remained through out.
Captain Nilo......Excellent job, excellent decision making, totally kept your cool and you used all available resources, ATC, and didn't worry about the holding up departing traffic. Like the turn back to Boca and staying high! Great job and great video. I fly a 182 and 737 and really enjoyed this video. Many people can learn from this video.
Well done my friend! You demonstrated excellent situational awareness and you acted. Most of all, you considered multiple factors with your aircraft, distance, and ultimately the welfare of your passengers. That "precious cargo" will always be our number one consideration! Thanks for sharing this. You helped break that silent stigma that to declare an emergency is somewhat to declare defeat. You've made it easier for all of us should we find ourselves in similar circumstances.
Good call, you stayed calm and cool. You had irreplaceable cargo on board, you are all safe, thank God. There were 3 no go signs: (1) Delay, (2) Daughters ears, (3) Rough engine, someone telling you not to go, who knows what would have happened if you kept going. God Bless and always stay safe. You have a Beautiful family, keep them safe.
I'm a controller myself and I've dealt with many situations like this myself. Pretty much any engine problem, ATC will treat it as an emergency, even if it's not literally "declared." I discussed the ARFF procedures with the ARFF chief at my airport once, and he told me that they Like to bring the vehicles out for any situation like this. They enjoy the opportunity to practice and a real situation or emergency is usually better than a practice one, although I've done plenty of those too. Pilots should never be concerned about this. When ATC declares an emergency for you and the equipment rolls, it doesn't count against you in any way... we appreciate the practice and just hope that the aircraft will land safely.
John Hachi your comment is exactly what pilots need to hear. do not hesitate to ask for help or get emergency status, they guys need the training in partial emergencies as well. and better to sort things out with events like this than big ones. "it doesn't count against you" in fact, it makes good pilots better to realize their limitations and when they need help.
With a wife and child with you the actions taken by you were absolutely the correct ones. Do not let any any critics sway you. The decision made by (Pilot in Command) was correct, prudent and above all what any husband and father should make. Well done! Dan (pilot since 1972)
Nicely handled. I've noticed in the Cirrus that if you fill up with warm fuel or delayed on a hot day, as you were, that when you climb to altitude and shut the aux pump off, you develop a vapor lock. The hot fuel and low ambient pressure allows the fuel to vaporize and the engine runs rough. When the aux is turned back on, the higher fuel pressure, keeps the fuel as a liquid and the engine is happy. Sometimes requiring the aux to remain on well past the recommended 30 min to allow the fuel to cool down. Regardless, you made the right call to not take any chances and return. -Safe flying-
Doug Christenson yes and I've had that before, but it was not a hot day, it was still in the 60's on the ground and 10c at 7,000. I don't think it was vapor lock and as you said I did not want to take chances. Thanks for the thought though, something to think about...
Doug Christenson It can also be a defective or going defective MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP, restricted FUEL SCREEN, defective or going defective FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, FUEL VENT issue. Question: did pilot mention and vacillating in FUEL FLOW on the MFD by chance? Sounds like situation was handled and prioritized correctly by PIC
As I said, the #6 cylinder fuel injector was almost completely clogged. So now they will inspect the entire system to determine the cause of the clog, including the condition of the other fuel injectors and the entire fuel system.
What a great video, this is a great example for people that aren't pilots or have no experience. It's just goes to show how many things can go wrong in a secant, and the complexity of aviation. People forget that they're not in a car and can pull off to the side of the road if mechanical problems arise. I can't imagine the pressure of being over open water, one engine, 7000 ft over ocean with my wife and child. This guy is super dad and took no chances protecting his family. Great video, I'm glad your family and you made safely to the ground and got to enjoy your vacation. The Cirrus plane really is a cool plane.
This is a textbook example of managing an IFE before it became a catastrophic engine failure in flight while maintaining as many alternative options as possible. Excellent job of managing a difficult situation, but staying ahead of the developing issues.
Thank you for the nice words coming from a real pilot like yourself. And thank you for your incredible service and putting your self on the line for us!!!!
Haven't read through the comments yet, but I'm sure there is a lot of criticism... Just wanted to say to @Niko'sWings, you got your family on the ground safely. That's what matters most.
As a Controller and a pilot, if an aircraft calls up with anything engine related I almost always consider that an emergency. It's better to have everyone in place and aware before it becomes a worse situation. Remember An emergency can be either a Distress or an Urgency condition. You handled everything exceptional even debriefing the passengers, well done. And love the videos!
Huge respect for how you have handled this emergency, calm and collected. As someone who sails as a hobby, I also have experienced frustrating times with decisions I had to make in a very short period of time. So I understand how much pressure you were under in situations like these and I give you credit for how calmly you have handled an emergency situation.
Good job. I never flew a Cirrus, but have a Cessna 182T. Best advice: Declare an emergency early and don't worry about ATC or holding others up. If ATC provides instructions that you cannot, or should not follow, tell them no. In a declared emergency, it's up to you and ATC is secondary. AOPA Legal can be your friend. Nice job!
The old saying of better safe than sorry still holds true today. Good landing, everyone survived quite nicely, well done. Even experienced people can learn a thing or two now and then. It was reassuring to see your calm, methodical attention to the problem which no doubt helped your passengers feel much safer. Your explanation to them at the end also conveys the idea that best not to tempt fate by pressing ahead with a problem and instead turn back for safety's sake. Again well done.
Glad you and your family are safe and as a pilot in command, pilot decision making is important and you did the right thing in my opinion. ATC and emergency services have been extremely helpful. It’s a good learning experience for me. Thanks for the wonderful video my friend.
My kids flew with me all the time. I never felt like they were in any more jeopardy than driving to the airport in traffic. That given, I didn't take chances to push my luck either. Niko seemed to do the same thing and return as soon as he felt something was wrong. I commend him for that. That is probably the best skill you can ever hope to have... common sense. Good job Niko!
Niko thanks so much for this. I have an identical aircraft to yours and it was very helpful to live through these real-world problems with you in the cockpit. First the delay, then the pax ear problem, next the vibration, next the non-responsive frequency. So often there are several things going on. Great decision making on your part. Super they could give you DCT Boca quite quickly. I can't wai to watch the fix.
Very impressed, tragedy avoided by skilled, professional pilot. I am very impressed by your calmness, never alarming your passengers, very professional. My (our) son is off to Aviation school to obtain his 4 year degree , I hope Sam can be as calm as you if and when a true emergency arises. Again, Impressed Sir.
Glad you and the family made it back safe and sound to Boca Raton Niko. New sub.. I have had similar emergencies before on the ocean.. I'm a captain of a small boat, and while the two are different, the world is a very large place, from 100+ miles offshore, and dead engine and dead batteries due to alternator issues. Obviously I made it back safe, but, with no reserve battery on board, and nothing but a small, 2 watt handheld radio, my experience as an electronic engineer paid off. We live in such a rural area, we would still be adrift out there a year later if I didn't have quick thinking and act on my experience. I now carry a backup generator, and have changed the way I do things offshore a little bit.
It seems this has popped up in a lot of peoples recommended feed recently, not that I mind. This is the definition of a good Pilot. If something doesn't feel right, don't just shrug it off. Niko, you made all the right decisions: preserve altitude and airspeed - energy - because not knowing what's wrong, you don't know what might happen. ATC did a great job, too, trusting the pilot's decisions and making sure he had as many options as he needed; and more, was refreshingly clear, concise, and well-paced in his communication! The only note I might make, in this humble keyboard-warrior's opinion, is that you should have declared PAN PAN in your first call to ATC about turning back. While I don't fault ATC at all for putting everything else on hold and calling in the cavalry, it's theoretically a more apt description since the engine was still running, and may have avoided the (thankfully) unneeded call out of emergency services. That being said, there's also the point that it's a single-engine; and there may be regulation there stating engine troubles categorically require that level of response, just in case. It certainly wasn't a "wrong" response, as it was. Nevertheless, a great example put forth by all involved, and something I think many can learn from!
Nice job handling the rough running engine that some are saying was a plugged injector. One thought on what I might have done as a career pilot: Since you don't know the cause of the rough engine, you never know if moving the throttle back might "freeze" the power at that reduced setting. Therefore, I might have considered maintaining your power and altitude, fly directly to the airport, and arrive over the airport at your cruising altitude. Then you can reduce power and circle down to a landing. In the F-16 we called it a SFO and we practiced it regularly. That's always a technique to file away for next time. Keep the video's coming....
Much respect sir. A true professional. Things happen in older and new planes. Not everything is ment to last a lifetime. Just glad you was able to make it back safe and get the proper repair. Fly safe my friend. Casey
Great work! Do not listen to anyone and do not make excuses. This is not a commercial flight. Refusal in the sky, your decision as a captain and your actions. Final: not damaged aircraft and healthy passengers (family). Conclusion: the decision is literate, the actions are correct.
I lost my voltage regulator and like you did a 180 even though magnetos were not dependent on a battery to keep aircraft aloft. The stress levels climb tremendously and can effect your decision making along with the malfunction. Never let impatience ruin your day!
It's crazy to think you're just troubleshooting away and trying to fly back, meanwhile back on the ground it's as serious as it gets while they wait for you to return. Glad everyone was safe!
Prompt and serious action... what I'd want from ATC in any situation like yours. You were calm, well collected, and dealt with the situation in a very professional manner. Kudos.
Very good video. Absolutely agree with you. You are in command and your family's safety is far more important than anything. I know I would have turned back for sure
Very inspiring and informative. I shed a few tears. Different things touch different people. I was touched when you said you declined to change altitude. This illustrates that in emergencies the pilot gets to do the driving, not ground control. In emergencies the ATC serves you, while in non-emergencies you follow their decisions. Don't worry about the critics in the Comments. I would let you fly me in that plane over the ocean.
Good job PIC! This is what I like to see, conservative airmanship that brings the pilot (and his priceless family) home. There are more GA accidents where unskilled pilots or seemingly innocuous problems have wiped out families than you can shake a stick at. Aspiring pilots: look at 12:10 in the video. That's where the critical decision making happens, where the pilot's experienced conservatism saves three lives. You can almost see the gears turning... Great response from Boca too. Awesome video Niko, keep up the decision-making masterclass.
What is most instructive here is how you remained pic. When ATC asked you to descend, you declined. Too often, particularly in emergencies, pilots think of ATC as the boss. They are there to facilitate your safe arrival and safety of other traffic. Them declaring an emergency for you was probably more procedural than anything, particularly with a TFR in place. By declaring an emergency, they can be much more flexible in routing and diverting other aircraft. In other words, it opens doors for both the PIC and ATC to respond quickly and appropriately wo dealing with bureaucracy. Pilots should not be scared of declaring an emergency. There are no negative repercussions, particularly if you land safely.
Good job keeping your cool. It sounds like Shawn was on duty in the tower, so you had the best. You and I met about seven weeks ago at Tim's hangar. I was the guy who lost oil pressure in my Mooney, which resulted in a complete overhaul, if you recall. Looks like your daughter was oblivious.
Of course I remember you Michael. A couple flights after we spoke I was coming back from Chicago and lost 2q of oil in 6 hours. Needless to say, one of the cylinders had a busted ring and ended up doing a top overhaul. How's your Mooney now?
I realize this happened in 2017. But your calm demeanor and the way the way you took care of the flight is a credit to your skills. I hope I can be the same level-headed pilot you are one day.
I've been watching your videos like if it was a Netflix series. Great stuff. I'm not a pilot or anything near, but your videos are exciting and very well put together (with narration). Awesome!
Sorry you had this problem and I am glad you and your family are safe. I also noticed the second try to get the engine started. Not knowing your aircraft, I thought nothing more of it. Always, always, always caution is always the orders for the day. When flying over water add more always to this sentence. Thanks for sharing your experience and you did an extremely good job flying and putting this video together. Very professional. I am always learning and these videos everyone shares are very helpful.
Very impressively handled. You kept your cool, worked the problem, and made the best decision in the interest of the aircraft and its occupants. Hat's off to you, Sir! Would fly with you any day!
Well done. I really like how you explained your thought process. We were able to get in your head to hear what you were thinking at the time and how you came to the decisions you made. Very well done indeed.
Applaud the patience Niko! Well handled sir. The vibration on the camera alone gives you a sense of the emergency, especially with your family in the back. Thanks for sharing this!
I’m very happy about this outcome for you and your family sir. It’s sensible piloting to take seriously anything you feel is out of the ordinary with your aircraft. So, you made a great call. Also, thank God for that controller who took this seriously enough to declare an emergency on your behalf!!
Good instincts and professionalism Niko! As an ATC at 4 towers including a Class D and 3 Class B's, I'll say that aside from ZMA missing the original distress calls, things went pretty smoothly. I especially liked the Boca Ground/Clearance guy's methodic voice and explanations. EDCT's are +/- 5 min and it very well could have been a ZMA flow control program for Caribbean routes as much as for the TFR. As to delaying other aircraft, if you're concerned about the safety of your flight do to an issue as you were, we get that and use that to quickly explain to others the reason for a temporary hold. Don't get talked into something you're not comfortable with when dealing with a situation. That being said, we expect when you report an issue, you're not abusing that priority request. Safe journeys!
Nice work! You kept your head and made good, rational decisions regarding your passengers and yourself. Glad it was a minor issue, but also very happy you didn't bet-the-farm on it being one!! Well done!!!
New subscriber after just watching you and Stefan chatting. Well done. Learned a lot watching. First and foremost...you sure seemed to keep calm and stayed focused. No doubt, you were extremely concerned and did well not to panic your family. You and ATC handled it marvelously...single engine over water...no question.....emergency. Keep posting, I'll keep watching!
Niko, Nice video. I'm impressed with your preparedness for open water flying. Not just having your chute "available" but having it on. Nice clear thinking on going back to last assigned frequency when you got no response from center. Why they didn't answer is anyone's guess and could have been a number of things. Don't hesitate to declare an emergency..better safe than sorry as always. Controllers will declare for you as a precaution so the proper equipment and assistance is available if needed. Delaying those on the ground etc. is not your concern (the aviation community as a whole understands..the ones that don't..well let them switch seats with you and see how they feel then). As controllers we will do what needs to be done to keep others out of your way. Only one observation..and yeah 20/20..after no contact with center the second time..squawk 7700..do what you have to do as safely as possible..you just put all eyes on you and trust me, that is not a bad thing. Good job staying cool and flying your plane...30 yrs. in ATC, dealt with many emergencies, Nice job!
Frank Borman said "A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill." Frank flew to the moon, so he definitely qualifies as a superior pilot. Turning back was a very wise decision. Well done.
Great Job, Glad you and the family were safe. A flight instructor with 30 years experience once told me "you can always buy a airline ticket", be safe.
Wow!! Always trust your gut feeling, and awesome to see/hear how #1 thing was safety for your family and yourself. Stayed super calm and thought about it logically, didn't panic. Hats off to you my friend, Happy and safe flying.
I was a little perturbed at how that engine didn't seem to want to fire up-you had to crank it twice the first time and the second time it took a few seconds to catch. Just glad you kept your cool and ATC was immensely helpful getting you and family back safely. I couldn't imagine ditching in the ocean. Great looking family you got there-the most important thing.
Glad you and your family are all safe.. You absolutely did the right thing. No question about that. You kept your height to increase your glide should the engine have died and most of all, you kept calm and made it safely back where you are able to share this experience.
Great vid! Very smart decision! When flying, problems never seam to get better only worst and when flying over any terrain with no safe landing types it is always advisable to take the safe route in a timely manner. It amazes me how many people put off the decision until too late or they try and justifies flying on. Have a safe flying with your kids!
Anyone who criticizes you for any of this is an idiot. You got your passengers back safe, and that's all that counts. I was trying to put myself in your shoes. I think I might have squawked 7700 after Miami didn't answer the second time and turned around on my own. But I think you had the Trump TFR to deal with, too, not sure how that would have worked out! But you stayed calm and it worked out. Excellent job, and great advice at the end. Safety is all that matters.
Great job! Safety of the flight is ALWAYS the #1 priority. Pride is a pilot killer. And with passengers on board, no brainer. Thanks for sharing this video.
Well handled, Niko. I'm with you all the way on your decisions. I wouldn't hesitate to end my trip if I became concerned about the engine or any flight systems. And I like the way you preserved maximum altitude till very close to the end. Better to have height and not need it than not have it and want it!!
I am not a pilot. In saying that, Even with my limited knowledge, I have watched hundreds and hundreds of videos of various pilots. I have researched actions of pilots for various situations and emergencies. The actions taken here are well within reasonableness and perfectly safe. I have found that you are a safe and professional pilot. For trolls to consider any part of what you did, pre-flight, in flight and post flight to be in anyway unsafe is absolutely beyond compression. I have never seen you do anything unsafe, unjustified or without logic. In fact, your logic and reasoning, I have found to be exceptional. I have never met you and would permit you to fly me in any situation without hesitation. You give pilots a good name and I agree with you and your responses to these trolls 100%.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Niko, 100% correct decision. Bravo. I was in a similar situation years ago in Cessna Golden Eagle, my boss was captain, I was first officer. At 24,000 we lost cabin heat, had low oil pressure and high EGT on starboard engine. Weather ahead was not good, meaning single engine operation would be very difficult if the engine failed. My boss wanted to press on. I insisted we return to base. He later thanked me. Remember, there are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.
I follow a simple rule when flying with other pilots aboard: the most scared pilot wins.
You got your family home safe. Anyone questioning your judgement needs to examine their own. Good work. Love the videos. Keep them coming
You broke the chain of "get there itis" that kills so many GA pilots. Nicely done. I'm sure there was a lot of personal, and probably family and friends, "pressure" for you to arrive at a certain time. I'm ATC and a private pilot and teach a lot about "breaking the chain" of bad decision making which you handled so well. Turks & Caicos can wait!! Your family should be very proud as am I.
Todd Steadman thank you, and that's exactly it. Didn't give it too much thought, the return was the one and only option. Thanks again!
He broke the chain and they still got there later, and probably had a great time. A good lesson, it's not the end of the world if you have to turn around, but it is if you have to pull the chute over the ocean.
I never get tired of seeing how the systems come together to respond to an emergency. It makes me proud of our responders every time. Thank you for the awesome video!
You did the one and only correct thing in that situation, turning back! Well handled, sir!
With family onboard and over water.... after a second failed ATC contact attempt failed, my first thought was to squawk 7700 and make a 180. You stayed cool and perfectly navigated this true emergency. Well done!
you made the best decision possible. You had the responsibility of family on board and not to mention the lives on the ground if your aircraft was to go down. You remained very calm, articulate and mindful despite the thousands of thoughts and emotions that must run through your mind. God bless you and again you're a fantastic pilot and I would fly with you any day.
Thanks Eustace
Good pilot, you made me relive my father's elevator cable break one final approach in a Ultralight Experimental 50 feet above the ground when I was 12 years old (2001). My father's elevator started feeling weird and he climbed to 1000 feet for caps deployment after we got to hanover PA (23 miles away) we turned around and came back to Keymar, MD My father had read about it happening to someone else about 2 weeks earlier and already had it in his mind. On final approach, the final sliver of cable snapped and we started diving, my father used the elevator trim full blast and it leveled us out enough for us to smash into the ground destroying our landing gear but making it out alive.
Thanks for keeping a level head and being clearly researched and well trained. :)
Nice calm job of flying sir. I know it seemed like a lot of fuss regarding the emergency service but as a firefighter of 10 years and a Sheriff's investigator for another 20 I can tell you that it is always a matter of better safe than sorry when it comes to any incident with possible life involved. It is alway better to be overly cautious and have all the help one could muster their and ready than to have no one there when suddenly the help is needed fast.
I was really impressed with how calm you remained through out.
Captain Nilo......Excellent job, excellent decision making, totally kept your cool and you used all available resources, ATC, and didn't worry about the holding up departing traffic. Like the turn back to Boca and staying high! Great job and great video. I fly a 182 and 737 and really enjoyed this video. Many people can learn from this video.
Jeff Billups thank you Sir!
Well done my friend! You demonstrated excellent situational awareness and you acted. Most of all, you considered multiple factors with your aircraft, distance, and ultimately the welfare of your passengers. That "precious cargo" will always be our number one consideration! Thanks for sharing this. You helped break that silent stigma that to declare an emergency is somewhat to declare defeat. You've made it easier for all of us should we find ourselves in similar circumstances.
Scary shit man. Especially with family on board. You handled it like a Boss.
Good call, you stayed calm and cool. You had irreplaceable cargo on board, you are all safe, thank God. There were 3 no go signs: (1) Delay, (2) Daughters ears, (3) Rough engine, someone telling you not to go, who knows what would have happened if you kept going. God Bless and always stay safe. You have a Beautiful family, keep them safe.
I'm a controller myself and I've dealt with many situations like this myself. Pretty much any engine problem, ATC will treat it as an emergency, even if it's not literally "declared." I discussed the ARFF procedures with the ARFF chief at my airport once, and he told me that they Like to bring the vehicles out for any situation like this. They enjoy the opportunity to practice and a real situation or emergency is usually better than a practice one, although I've done plenty of those too. Pilots should never be concerned about this. When ATC declares an emergency for you and the equipment rolls, it doesn't count against you in any way... we appreciate the practice and just hope that the aircraft will land safely.
John Hachi your comment is exactly what pilots need to hear. do not hesitate to ask for help or get emergency status, they guys need the training in partial emergencies as well. and better to sort things out with events like this than big ones.
"it doesn't count against you" in fact, it makes good pilots better to realize their limitations and when they need help.
With a wife and child with you the actions taken by you were absolutely the correct ones. Do not let any any critics sway you. The decision made by (Pilot in Command) was correct, prudent and above all what any husband and father should make. Well done! Dan (pilot since 1972)
Thanks, I would do the same if I were solo
Nicely handled.
I've noticed in the Cirrus that if you fill up with warm fuel or delayed on a hot day, as you were, that when you climb to altitude and shut the aux pump off, you develop a vapor lock. The hot fuel and low ambient pressure allows the fuel to vaporize and the engine runs rough. When the aux is turned back on, the higher fuel pressure, keeps the fuel as a liquid and the engine is happy. Sometimes requiring the aux to remain on well past the recommended 30 min to allow the fuel to cool down.
Regardless, you made the right call to not take any chances and return.
-Safe flying-
Doug Christenson yes and I've had that before, but it was not a hot day, it was still in the 60's on the ground and 10c at 7,000. I don't think it was vapor lock and as you said I did not want to take chances. Thanks for the thought though, something to think about...
Looking forward to learning about the cause of this event.
Doug Christenson It can also be a defective or going defective MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP, restricted FUEL SCREEN, defective or going defective FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR, FUEL VENT issue.
Question: did pilot mention and vacillating in FUEL FLOW on the MFD by chance?
Sounds like situation was handled and prioritized correctly by PIC
As I said, the #6 cylinder fuel injector was almost completely clogged. So now they will inspect the entire system to determine the cause of the clog, including the condition of the other fuel injectors and the entire fuel system.
What a great video, this is a great example for people that aren't pilots or have no experience. It's just goes to show how many things can go wrong in a secant, and the complexity of aviation. People forget that they're not in a car and can pull off to the side of the road if mechanical problems arise. I can't imagine the pressure of being over open water, one engine, 7000 ft over ocean with my wife and child. This guy is super dad and took no chances protecting his family. Great video, I'm glad your family and you made safely to the ground and got to enjoy your vacation. The Cirrus plane really is a cool plane.
Thank you!
This is a textbook example of managing an IFE before it became a catastrophic engine failure in flight while maintaining as many alternative options as possible. Excellent job of managing a difficult situation, but staying ahead of the developing issues.
I flew A-10 in Iraq and have been a pilot for nearly 30 years. You handled this emergency, as well, or better, than I would have. Well done Sir!
Thank you for the nice words coming from a real pilot like yourself. And thank you for your incredible service and putting your self on the line for us!!!!
Niko's Wings : Thank you, Niko, for the recognition; it was my pleasure and honor to serve.
Haven't read through the comments yet, but I'm sure there is a lot of criticism... Just wanted to say to @Niko'sWings, you got your family on the ground safely. That's what matters most.
As a Controller and a pilot, if an aircraft calls up with anything engine related I almost always consider that an emergency. It's better to have everyone in place and aware before it becomes a worse situation. Remember An emergency can be either a Distress or an Urgency condition. You handled everything exceptional even debriefing the passengers, well done.
And love the videos!
As a pilot in charge you are responsible for all souls on board. You did a great job Niko!
Always learn alot from you, my friend.
Wow, glad you and your family are safe. Great that you remained calm and worked through it systematically. Thanks for sharing!
Huge respect for how you have handled this emergency, calm and collected. As someone who sails as a hobby, I also have experienced frustrating times with decisions I had to make in a very short period of time. So I understand how much pressure you were under in situations like these and I give you credit for how calmly you have handled an emergency situation.
Good job. I never flew a Cirrus, but have a Cessna 182T. Best advice: Declare an emergency early and don't worry about ATC or holding others up. If ATC provides instructions that you cannot, or should not follow, tell them no. In a declared emergency, it's up to you and ATC is secondary. AOPA Legal can be your friend. Nice job!
you made all the right calls. good judgment and excellent use of your training and skills. Happy your okay!
You returned your family safe and sound, that is the priority. Well done. Remained calm under pressure, that was good.
Job well done! You guys handled it like professionals because you were "always prepared" like your daughter said. Thanks to ATC!
ptouchhero and you know what? Nobody told her to say that on camera. It's amazing kids' perception!
The old saying of better safe than sorry still holds true today. Good landing, everyone survived quite nicely, well done. Even experienced people can learn a thing or two now and then. It was reassuring to see your calm, methodical attention to the problem which no doubt helped your passengers feel much safer. Your explanation to them at the end also conveys the idea that best not to tempt fate by pressing ahead with a problem and instead turn back for safety's sake. Again well done.
I've watched a couple of your videos now. I'm impressed with the level of professionalism you've displayed. Good work!
Glad you and your family are safe and as a pilot in command, pilot decision making is important and you did the right thing in my opinion. ATC and emergency services have been extremely helpful. It’s a good learning experience for me. Thanks for the wonderful video my friend.
My kids flew with me all the time. I never felt like they were in any more jeopardy than driving to the airport in traffic. That given, I didn't take chances to push my luck either. Niko seemed to do the same thing and return as soon as he felt something was wrong. I commend him for that. That is probably the best skill you can ever hope to have... common sense. Good job Niko!
You know murphy's law: If you think something is wrong, it probably is..don't ignore it, It's called: experience....
Good job, and smart flying. Never take a chance over open water. Made all the right choices.
Niko thanks so much for this. I have an identical aircraft to yours and it was very helpful to live through these real-world problems with you in the cockpit. First the delay, then the pax ear problem, next the vibration, next the non-responsive frequency. So often there are several things going on. Great decision making on your part. Super they could give you DCT Boca quite quickly. I can't wai to watch the fix.
Very impressed, tragedy avoided by skilled, professional pilot. I am very impressed by your calmness, never alarming your passengers, very professional. My (our) son is off to Aviation school to obtain his 4 year degree , I hope Sam can be as calm as you if and when a true emergency arises. Again, Impressed Sir.
Great job in your decisions and not letting a small problem getting worse. Well done.
Glad you and the family made it back safe and sound to Boca Raton Niko. New sub.. I have had similar emergencies before on the ocean.. I'm a captain of a small boat, and while the two are different, the world is a very large place, from 100+ miles offshore, and dead engine and dead batteries due to alternator issues. Obviously I made it back safe, but, with no reserve battery on board, and nothing but a small, 2 watt handheld radio, my experience as an electronic engineer paid off. We live in such a rural area, we would still be adrift out there a year later if I didn't have quick thinking and act on my experience.
I now carry a backup generator, and have changed the way I do things offshore a little bit.
Nerves of steel! Looked cool as a cucumber the whole time. Something a passenger desperately needs in an emergency. Well done Niko!
Calmly executed, I can tell you reverted back to your training . Well done Captain.
It seems this has popped up in a lot of peoples recommended feed recently, not that I mind.
This is the definition of a good Pilot. If something doesn't feel right, don't just shrug it off. Niko, you made all the right decisions: preserve altitude and airspeed - energy - because not knowing what's wrong, you don't know what might happen. ATC did a great job, too, trusting the pilot's decisions and making sure he had as many options as he needed; and more, was refreshingly clear, concise, and well-paced in his communication!
The only note I might make, in this humble keyboard-warrior's opinion, is that you should have declared PAN PAN in your first call to ATC about turning back. While I don't fault ATC at all for putting everything else on hold and calling in the cavalry, it's theoretically a more apt description since the engine was still running, and may have avoided the (thankfully) unneeded call out of emergency services. That being said, there's also the point that it's a single-engine; and there may be regulation there stating engine troubles categorically require that level of response, just in case. It certainly wasn't a "wrong" response, as it was.
Nevertheless, a great example put forth by all involved, and something I think many can learn from!
Nice job handling the rough running engine that some are saying was a plugged injector. One thought on what I might have done as a career pilot: Since you don't know the cause of the rough engine, you never know if moving the throttle back might "freeze" the power at that reduced setting. Therefore, I might have considered maintaining your power and altitude, fly directly to the airport, and arrive over the airport at your cruising altitude. Then you can reduce power and circle down to a landing. In the F-16 we called it a SFO and we practiced it regularly. That's always a technique to file away for next time. Keep the video's coming....
Thanks for the feedback and for your service
well done that man... things happen out of the blue in anything.. you handled the situation like a true professional.... nice one.
Much respect sir. A true professional. Things happen in older and new planes. Not everything is ment to last a lifetime. Just glad you was able to make it back safe and get the proper repair. Fly safe my friend.
Casey
Great work!
Do not listen to anyone and do not make excuses. This is not a commercial flight.
Refusal in the sky, your decision as a captain and your actions.
Final: not damaged aircraft and healthy passengers (family).
Conclusion: the decision is literate, the actions are correct.
Your approach was right over where I live. Excellent flying and kudos on keeping your composure under a ton of stress.
I lost my voltage regulator and like you did a 180 even though magnetos were not dependent on a battery to keep aircraft aloft. The stress levels climb tremendously and can effect your decision making along with the malfunction. Never let impatience ruin your day!
Wow! Amazing nerves of steel! The daughter's ears, the plain, communications. Incredible!
The honesty and humility it takes to upload these videos is why I subscribe to you. Stay safe!
It's crazy to think you're just troubleshooting away and trying to fly back, meanwhile back on the ground it's as serious as it gets while they wait for you to return. Glad everyone was safe!
Prompt and serious action... what I'd want from ATC in any situation like yours. You were calm, well collected, and dealt with the situation in a very professional manner. Kudos.
you did the right thing. Being cautious is never a bad thing when it comes to flight
Very good video. Absolutely agree with you. You are in command and your family's safety is far more important than anything. I know I would have turned back for sure
Very inspiring and informative. I shed a few tears. Different things touch different people. I was touched when you said you declined to change altitude. This illustrates that in emergencies the pilot gets to do the driving, not ground control. In emergencies the ATC serves you, while in non-emergencies you follow their decisions. Don't worry about the critics in the Comments. I would let you fly me in that plane over the ocean.
Good job PIC!
This is what I like to see, conservative airmanship that brings the pilot (and his priceless family) home.
There are more GA accidents where unskilled pilots or seemingly innocuous problems have wiped out families than you can shake a stick at.
Aspiring pilots: look at 12:10 in the video. That's where the critical decision making happens, where the pilot's experienced conservatism saves three lives. You can almost see the gears turning...
Great response from Boca too.
Awesome video Niko, keep up the decision-making masterclass.
What is most instructive here is how you remained pic. When ATC asked you to descend, you declined. Too often, particularly in emergencies, pilots think of ATC as the boss. They are there to facilitate your safe arrival and safety of other traffic. Them declaring an emergency for you was probably more procedural than anything, particularly with a TFR in place. By declaring an emergency, they can be much more flexible in routing and diverting other aircraft. In other words, it opens doors for both the PIC and ATC to respond quickly and appropriately wo dealing with bureaucracy. Pilots should not be scared of declaring an emergency. There are no negative repercussions, particularly if you land safely.
It will be procedure anywhere to consider engine problems on a single engine aircraft (no redundancy) as an emergency.
Good job keeping your cool. It sounds like Shawn was on duty in the tower, so you had the best.
You and I met about seven weeks ago at Tim's hangar. I was the guy who lost oil pressure in my Mooney, which resulted in a complete overhaul, if you recall.
Looks like your daughter was oblivious.
Of course I remember you Michael. A couple flights after we spoke I was coming back from Chicago and lost 2q of oil in 6 hours. Needless to say, one of the cylinders had a busted ring and ended up doing a top overhaul. How's your Mooney now?
Purring like a cat. I'd love to take a ride in the Cirrus one day.
Safety first, especially when your family is involved. I commend this guy.
I realize this happened in 2017. But your calm demeanor and the way the way you took care of the flight is a credit to your skills. I hope I can be the same level-headed pilot you are one day.
I've been watching your videos like if it was a Netflix series. Great stuff. I'm not a pilot or anything near, but your videos are exciting and very well put together (with narration). Awesome!
Sorry you had this problem and I am glad you and your family are safe. I also noticed the second try to get the engine started. Not knowing your aircraft, I thought nothing more of it. Always, always, always caution is always the orders for the day. When flying over water add more always to this sentence. Thanks for sharing your experience and you did an extremely good job flying and putting this video together. Very professional. I am always learning and these videos everyone shares are very helpful.
Very impressively handled. You kept your cool, worked the problem, and made the best decision in the interest of the aircraft and its occupants. Hat's off to you, Sir! Would fly with you any day!
THIS IS WHAT ALL PILOTS NEED REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE NIKO THANK YOU FOR THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I WAS THERE WIYH YOU AMAZING
The muted audio was actually an interesting way to study body language in a situation like this...
Well done Captain! Nice flying & keeping calm!
I'm new to the channel and watched a half dozen videos. I am very impressed with your professionalism in the cockpit! Great job!
Nice job, completely professional all the way around and thinking safety first. More should follow your advice when flying.
Smart decision making and staying in command of the aircraft at all times instead of letting circumstances command you. Well done.
Well done. I really like how you explained your thought process. We were able to get in your head to hear what you were thinking at the time and how you came to the decisions you made. Very well done indeed.
Applaud the patience Niko! Well handled sir. The vibration on the camera alone gives you a sense of the emergency, especially with your family in the back. Thanks for sharing this!
I’m very happy about this outcome for you and your family sir. It’s sensible piloting to take seriously anything you feel is out of the ordinary with your aircraft. So, you made a great call. Also, thank God for that controller who took this seriously enough to declare an emergency on your behalf!!
Glad you took the appropriate action and returned safely. Thanks for the upload.
Good instincts and professionalism Niko! As an ATC at 4 towers including a Class D and 3 Class B's, I'll say that aside from ZMA missing the original distress calls, things went pretty smoothly. I especially liked the Boca Ground/Clearance guy's methodic voice and explanations. EDCT's are +/- 5 min and it very well could have been a ZMA flow control program for Caribbean routes as much as for the TFR. As to delaying other aircraft, if you're concerned about the safety of your flight do to an issue as you were, we get that and use that to quickly explain to others the reason for a temporary hold. Don't get talked into something you're not comfortable with when dealing with a situation. That being said, we expect when you report an issue, you're not abusing that priority request. Safe journeys!
Nice work! You kept your head and made good, rational decisions regarding your passengers and yourself. Glad it was a minor issue, but also very happy you didn't bet-the-farm on it being one!!
Well done!!!
New subscriber after just watching you and Stefan chatting. Well done. Learned a lot watching. First and foremost...you sure seemed to keep calm and stayed focused. No doubt, you were extremely concerned and did well not to panic your family. You and ATC handled it marvelously...single engine over water...no question.....emergency. Keep posting, I'll keep watching!
Excellent decision making! Well done Niko, you kept your cool!
Holy shit the ATC on the ATIS and Ground has the BEST voice ever
Niko, Nice video. I'm impressed with your preparedness for open water flying. Not just having your chute "available" but having it on. Nice clear thinking on going back to last assigned frequency when you got no response from center. Why they didn't answer is anyone's guess and could have been a number of things. Don't hesitate to declare an emergency..better safe than sorry as always. Controllers will declare for you as a precaution so the proper equipment and assistance is available if needed. Delaying those on the ground etc. is not your concern (the aviation community as a whole understands..the ones that don't..well let them switch seats with you and see how they feel then). As controllers we will do what needs to be done to keep others out of your way. Only one observation..and yeah 20/20..after no contact with center the second time..squawk 7700..do what you have to do as safely as possible..you just put all eyes on you and trust me, that is not a bad thing. Good job staying cool and flying your plane...30 yrs. in ATC, dealt with many emergencies, Nice job!
brad325is thanks for the feedback Brad
Good job Niko. You may an early decision not to press your luck, kept the girls calm and lived to fly another day. Kudos!
So thankful that you were able to land safely and handle this situation with calmness and confidence. Good decision making and planning.
Landing safely is what it's all about. Unfortunately machines break down. Great job with the video. Stay safe.
Nothing but respect. Grade A cool headed logic and safety thinking at work.
Frank Borman said "A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill." Frank flew to the moon, so he definitely qualifies as a superior pilot.
Turning back was a very wise decision. Well done.
J Shepar
J Shepard Nobody has ever been to the moon bro and the earth is not a spinning globe but flat and fixed. Research at your leisure. Peace, out
We need to get you more subs buddy! This stuff is great. I can see TLC making a series out of this.
Great Job, Glad you and the family were safe. A flight instructor with 30 years experience once told me "you can always buy a airline ticket", be safe.
We probably had the same instructor, but mine was 10 years ago :-)
Wow!! Always trust your gut feeling, and awesome to see/hear how #1 thing was safety for your family and yourself. Stayed super calm and thought about it logically, didn't panic. Hats off to you my friend, Happy and safe flying.
I was a little perturbed at how that engine didn't seem to want to fire up-you had to crank it twice the first time and the second time it took a few seconds to catch. Just glad you kept your cool and ATC was immensely helpful getting you and family back safely. I couldn't imagine ditching in the ocean. Great looking family you got there-the most important thing.
Interesting for sure, I had the same feeling when it actually happened.
It should be noted that starting piston engines hot are always more stubborn.
I think that you made a very professional decision in turning back and keeping your family calm... 👍👍👍
Glad you and your family are all safe..
You absolutely did the right thing. No question about that. You kept your height to increase your glide should the engine have died and most of all, you kept calm and made it safely back where you are able to share this experience.
Beautiful family. Great decision making. Way to stay cool under pressure.
Great Video with logical action sequence. it could not have been executed better in my opinion.
Great stuff.
Great vid! Very smart decision! When flying, problems never seam to get better only worst and when flying over any terrain with no safe landing types it is always advisable to take the safe route in a timely manner.
It amazes me how many people put off the decision until too late or they try and justifies flying on.
Have a safe flying with your kids!
Your attitude and handling were excellent. If my kid was in the plane, I would likely have my heart-rate up some.
OMG what beautiful cockpit interior! so smooth and clean.
Everyone got home safe, nice work! Always best to be smart and play it safe. Cool and calm the entire way, sure your family appreciated that.
Good video, all these experiences are necessary for the criterion and training of the pilot,Good landingThumbs up!!
Anyone who criticizes you for any of this is an idiot. You got your passengers back safe, and that's all that counts. I was trying to put myself in your shoes. I think I might have squawked 7700 after Miami didn't answer the second time and turned around on my own. But I think you had the Trump TFR to deal with, too, not sure how that would have worked out! But you stayed calm and it worked out. Excellent job, and great advice at the end. Safety is all that matters.
Awesome video I appreciate very much, your professionalism. Safety first always!!!
Great job! Safety of the flight is ALWAYS the #1 priority. Pride is a pilot killer. And with passengers on board, no brainer. Thanks for sharing this video.
Well handled, Niko. I'm with you all the way on your decisions. I wouldn't hesitate to end my trip if I became concerned about the engine or any flight systems. And I like the way you preserved maximum altitude till very close to the end. Better to have height and not need it than not have it and want it!!
I am not a pilot. In saying that, Even with my limited knowledge, I have watched hundreds and hundreds of videos of various pilots. I have researched actions of pilots for various situations and emergencies. The actions taken here are well within reasonableness and perfectly safe. I have found that you are a safe and professional pilot. For trolls to consider any part of what you did, pre-flight, in flight and post flight to be in anyway unsafe is absolutely beyond compression. I have never seen you do anything unsafe, unjustified or without logic. In fact, your logic and reasoning, I have found to be exceptional. I have never met you and would permit you to fly me in any situation without hesitation. You give pilots a good name and I agree with you and your responses to these trolls 100%.