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A B767 captain advocates against a recent SOP change regarding stabilizer trim for takeoff.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 943222 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201104 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | LAX.Airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B767-300 and 300 ER |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Horizontal Stabilizer Trim |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 24000 Flight Crew Type 6000 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
During cockpit setup found the stabilizer trim was left at 6.0. According to new SOP it should be left at 2.0 by inbound crew. (6.0 is at the edge of the green band). This highlights the recent change in 'before start checklist' which lessens safety. The final item on the old 'before start checklist' has a challenge and response for 'trim'. This item was recently removed. Now the only time trim is addressed is when final weights come out and this is usually when taxiing. In this case it was found during cockpit setup; but it would have been nice to have it in the checklist. Removal of planned weight manifest is also a great step backwards which is mind boggling. I don't understand how the omission of 'trim' in the checklist enhances safety. We lost an airplane years ago due to the trim being left in the full aft position by the inbound crew. It used to be in the checklist; and then changes made while taxiing out. Taxiing is not a good time to be talking about and/or setting trim. We have removed one step that could break a chain leading to an accident? Why? Finding the trim in a severe aft position was a reminder that the new SOP is flawed. And why is 2.0 the new 'safe' number? I have 10 plus years on the fleet and have never taken off with that trim setting?
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B767 Captain advocates against a recent SOP change regarding stabilizer trim for takeoff.
Narrative: During cockpit setup found the stabilizer trim was left at 6.0. According to new SOP it should be left at 2.0 by inbound crew. (6.0 is at the edge of the green band). This highlights the recent change in 'before start checklist' which lessens safety. The final item on the old 'before start checklist' has a challenge and response for 'trim'. This item was recently removed. Now the only time trim is addressed is when final weights come out and this is usually when taxiing. In this case it was found during cockpit setup; but it would have been nice to have it in the checklist. Removal of planned weight manifest is also a great step backwards which is mind boggling. I don't understand how the omission of 'trim' in the checklist enhances safety. We lost an airplane years ago due to the trim being left in the full aft position by the inbound crew. It used to be in the checklist; and then changes made while taxiing out. Taxiing is not a good time to be talking about and/or setting trim. We have removed one step that could break a chain leading to an accident? Why? Finding the trim in a severe aft position was a reminder that the new SOP is flawed. And why is 2.0 the new 'safe' number? I have 10 plus years on the fleet and have NEVER taken off with that trim setting?
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.