Abstract
Part I of this study examined four automation-related malfunctions and subsequent pilot responses. The present study examined four additional malfunctions; two more obvious (runaway pitch-trim down, runaway roll servo) and two more subtle (failed attitude indicator, pitch sensor drift down) than those in Part I, and the effect of an auditory warning. Data collection again was performed in the Civil Aeromedical Institute's Advanced General Aviation Research Simulator, configured as a Piper Malibu. Results suggest that the first three of these failures may, in a significant percentage of cases (13 of 24 in the sample), lead to significant altitude loss, overstress of the airframe, disorientation of the pilot, or destruction of the aircraft. Percentages of successful recoveries, detection/correction times, and related indices of performance are discussed in the context of malfunction type, flight profile, and auditory alerts.
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