Are smaller planes more dangerous?
ABC 17 News looked into how often small planes have to be maintained after the plane actor Harrison Ford was flying crashed Thursday night.
We talked to a pilot who survived his own crash landing in Mid-Missouri.
“You get out, count your blessings, and move on.”
Captain Kirk Powell has been flying planes for more than 25 years. His plane lost two engines and crashed in a field in Ashland in January 2014.
“It’s so sad what happened to Mr. Ford. I’m glad he wasn’t hurt. Even though he’s an older gentleman he can still handle emergencies and walk away,” said Powell.
Powell said the small planes need an annual check.
“We go through the whole airplane, flight controls, cables, anything that could wear out.”
It’s required by the FAA.
Ford was flying a 1942 World War II plane, and Powell said because of the required inspections and maintenance, “we’re able to fly the old airplanes.”
Powell said the older age of a plane does not put a pilot at any more risk.
He said to think of it like this. If you built the engine, put new generators, a battery, alternators, water pumps, etc. in your car every 50,000 miles, “cars would last forever and that’s kind of what we do with planes.”
Harrison Ford is reportedly doing well. His son Ben tweeted, “At the hospital. Dad is okay. Battered, but ok! He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man.”
