Post by Don Gieseke on Oct 24, 2015 16:27:13 GMT -6
2015 APA SAFETY AWARD
Flight: US 2157 s City Pair: LGA–DCA (BWI) s Date: March 03, 2015 s Acft: E-190
On March 3, 2015, Captain Michael Baier and First Officer Andrew Brezicha were operating
US Airways flight 2157 from La Guardia Airport in New York City to Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. They were in icing conditions on the arrival
into Washington at 12,000 feet when their Embraer 190 aircraft experienced a sudden and
complete loss of electrical power. CA Baier heard the Ram Air Turbine automatically deploy to
provide emergency electrical power followed closely by an “Electrical Emergency” message
along with several secondary alerts on their system displays.
CA Baier directed FO Brezicha to run the electrical emergency checklist. At the same time, FO
Brezicha declared an emergency with Potomac Approach Control, which advised him that
Baltimore–Washington International Airport was only 12 miles away. With a severely degraded
electrical system and time being of the essence, CA Baier quickly made the decision to divert to
Baltimore. The multiple impaired systems and reduced stopping ability of their aircraft made the
longer runway available in Baltimore critical.
CA Baier received radar vectors from Approach Control and was hand-flying the Embraer 190
on standby instruments in the weather while FO Brezicha continued to run the Electrical
Emergency Checklist. After starting the auxiliary power unit, they recovered partial electrical
power as well as a partial recovery of a few other systems, although most aircraft systems
remained seriously degraded.
As CA Baier continued toward the airport on standby instrumentation, he briefed the cabin crew
and passengers about their emergency and diversion. FO Brezicha was working furiously as he
continued running the emergency checklists, calculating the runway landing distance required
and assisting in preparing for the approach into Baltimore. As they were setting up the approach,
the crew realized they had no glideslope information available because of the degraded
navigation system. A non-precision approach in the weather would have to suffice.
With the windshield anti-ice system inoperative, while descending through 4,000 feet, the
windshield began to ice up, and FO Brezicha reported he had no forward visibility on his side. At
3,000 feet, the aircraft finally broke out of the clouds, and CA Baier was able to see the runway.
At this point, because of their close proximity to the airport at the time of the divert and
subsequent short approach, the aircraft was too high to complete a normal approach. This
required CA Baier to maneuver the aircraft to lose altitude. During this time, FO Brezicha
worked quickly to complete the emergency procedures and run the Emergency Landing
Checklist and the Normal Landing Checklist. His experience, technical skills and calm demeanor
were instrumental in allowing him to prioritize the most critical tasks and accomplish everything
necessary to ensure the safe recovery of the aircraft.
Throughout the event, the crew continued to receive multiple error messages as the aircraft
power-cycled and systems dropped offline and came back. In spite of the distractions and
confusing indications, the crew was able to complete the tasks necessary to make a safe landing
in Baltimore. During the taxi to the gate and even after gate arrival, the aircraft’s electrical
system continued to be erratic. After deplaning their passengers, the only way the crew was able
to stop the errors was to remove all electrical power from the aircraft. This brought them full
circle to where they began their ordeal at 12,000 feet.
In the very short time from the initial indication of a problem to the landing of the aircraft in
Baltimore, CA Baier and FO Brezicha diagnosed multiple problems and completed multiple
emergency checklists and multiple normal checklists, all while flying in the weather on standby
instruments with an iced-over windshield. The aviator’s mantra of “Aviate, Navigate,
Communicate” served them well as they prioritized tasks and professionally dealt with an
emergency few pilots will ever encounter. In simulator training, emergencies are usually
presented one at a time over the course of four hours. CA Baier and FO Brezicha encountered an
entire simulator session’s worth of emergencies in 20 minutes. This far exceeds what most
crewmembers would classify as their “worst day,” and they handled it flawlessly with the
successful outcome most passengers assume when they board an aircraft. The prompt and heroic
efforts of this crew avoided a tragedy on that day. Their knowledge, airmanship and
professionalism are a credit to themselves and all American Airlines pilots.
It is for this reason that it is my honor to present CA Michael Baier and FO Andrew Brezicha with the 2015 APA
Safety Award.
Flight: US 2157 s City Pair: LGA–DCA (BWI) s Date: March 03, 2015 s Acft: E-190
On March 3, 2015, Captain Michael Baier and First Officer Andrew Brezicha were operating
US Airways flight 2157 from La Guardia Airport in New York City to Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. They were in icing conditions on the arrival
into Washington at 12,000 feet when their Embraer 190 aircraft experienced a sudden and
complete loss of electrical power. CA Baier heard the Ram Air Turbine automatically deploy to
provide emergency electrical power followed closely by an “Electrical Emergency” message
along with several secondary alerts on their system displays.
CA Baier directed FO Brezicha to run the electrical emergency checklist. At the same time, FO
Brezicha declared an emergency with Potomac Approach Control, which advised him that
Baltimore–Washington International Airport was only 12 miles away. With a severely degraded
electrical system and time being of the essence, CA Baier quickly made the decision to divert to
Baltimore. The multiple impaired systems and reduced stopping ability of their aircraft made the
longer runway available in Baltimore critical.
CA Baier received radar vectors from Approach Control and was hand-flying the Embraer 190
on standby instruments in the weather while FO Brezicha continued to run the Electrical
Emergency Checklist. After starting the auxiliary power unit, they recovered partial electrical
power as well as a partial recovery of a few other systems, although most aircraft systems
remained seriously degraded.
As CA Baier continued toward the airport on standby instrumentation, he briefed the cabin crew
and passengers about their emergency and diversion. FO Brezicha was working furiously as he
continued running the emergency checklists, calculating the runway landing distance required
and assisting in preparing for the approach into Baltimore. As they were setting up the approach,
the crew realized they had no glideslope information available because of the degraded
navigation system. A non-precision approach in the weather would have to suffice.
With the windshield anti-ice system inoperative, while descending through 4,000 feet, the
windshield began to ice up, and FO Brezicha reported he had no forward visibility on his side. At
3,000 feet, the aircraft finally broke out of the clouds, and CA Baier was able to see the runway.
At this point, because of their close proximity to the airport at the time of the divert and
subsequent short approach, the aircraft was too high to complete a normal approach. This
required CA Baier to maneuver the aircraft to lose altitude. During this time, FO Brezicha
worked quickly to complete the emergency procedures and run the Emergency Landing
Checklist and the Normal Landing Checklist. His experience, technical skills and calm demeanor
were instrumental in allowing him to prioritize the most critical tasks and accomplish everything
necessary to ensure the safe recovery of the aircraft.
Throughout the event, the crew continued to receive multiple error messages as the aircraft
power-cycled and systems dropped offline and came back. In spite of the distractions and
confusing indications, the crew was able to complete the tasks necessary to make a safe landing
in Baltimore. During the taxi to the gate and even after gate arrival, the aircraft’s electrical
system continued to be erratic. After deplaning their passengers, the only way the crew was able
to stop the errors was to remove all electrical power from the aircraft. This brought them full
circle to where they began their ordeal at 12,000 feet.
In the very short time from the initial indication of a problem to the landing of the aircraft in
Baltimore, CA Baier and FO Brezicha diagnosed multiple problems and completed multiple
emergency checklists and multiple normal checklists, all while flying in the weather on standby
instruments with an iced-over windshield. The aviator’s mantra of “Aviate, Navigate,
Communicate” served them well as they prioritized tasks and professionally dealt with an
emergency few pilots will ever encounter. In simulator training, emergencies are usually
presented one at a time over the course of four hours. CA Baier and FO Brezicha encountered an
entire simulator session’s worth of emergencies in 20 minutes. This far exceeds what most
crewmembers would classify as their “worst day,” and they handled it flawlessly with the
successful outcome most passengers assume when they board an aircraft. The prompt and heroic
efforts of this crew avoided a tragedy on that day. Their knowledge, airmanship and
professionalism are a credit to themselves and all American Airlines pilots.
It is for this reason that it is my honor to present CA Michael Baier and FO Andrew Brezicha with the 2015 APA
Safety Award.