MEC&F Expert Engineers : 05/22/15

Friday, May 22, 2015

Motorcycling and pedestrian deaths are on the rise: Milwaukee alderman killed in Harley-Davidson motorcycle crash

MILWAUKEE, WIS. (AP)

 Milwaukee police say a motorcyclist killed in an overnight crash is a city alderman.

Authorities say 56-year-old Joseph Dudzik died after his Harley-Davidson motorcycle hit some construction barricades on the city’s southwest side about 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Dudzik was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

Dudzik was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 2002 and represented the 11th District. He worked for the city’s public works department for more than 20 years.

He’s survived by his wife and two sons.

18-year-old who had recently graduated killed in early morning car crash in Gilbert, Arizona


May 22, 2015
GILBERT, AZ (KPHO/KTVK) -  
 
A teenager is dead after an early morning car wreck in Gilbert.

It happened shortly before 1 a.m. Friday at Val Vista Dive and Elliot Road.

According to Lt. Hugh White of the Gilbert Police Department, Jasmine Rios, 18, was riding in a car driven by an unidentified 17-year-old girl. They were heading west on Elliot Road when their vehicle collided with a pickup truck that was northbound on Val Vista Drive.

Harrison Smith, also 18, was behind the wheel of the truck.

White said police believe Smith and the other teen driver celebrated their high school graduations Thursday night.

Rios suffered critical injuries. She was transported to a local hospital where doctors pronounced her dead. Gilbert police said Rios was a cousin visiting from Texas.

The conditions of Smith and the other driver were not immediately available.

White said the Gilbert Police Traffic Reconstruction Team is working to piece together the moments leading up to the crash. They also will try determine if impairment was a factor.

NTSB RELEASED ITS PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE PIPER PA 46-350P PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED 2 MEN IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON






















MAY 22, 2015

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on Friday on a plane that crashed into the Spokane River and killed two men. 

Investigators said the Piper PA 46-350P crashed into the Spokane River during an attempted landing at Felts Field on May 7. Officials said the plane had undergone an annual inspection at Rocket Engineering. They said the flight was a post-maintenance test flight. It was only supposed to last 40 minutes.

Instead the plan ended up crashing into the Spokane River killing Richard Runyon, 64, and Lydon Amestory, 60. 

Authorities said the Federal Aviation Administration captured the entire flight sequence. Almost immediately after takeoff the plane started turning to the right. The plane began a more aggressive turn to the right about 1.5 miles into the flight. 

Air traffic control asked the pilot if everything was ok and the pilot responded, "That's a negative." Control tower personnel stated that during this period the airplane was banking about 90 degrees to the right and descending. They assumed it was about to crash. 

Then, the airplane appeared to recover. The pilot reported, "We are trying to get under control here, be back with you."

Officials said the plane reached Newman Lake and the pilot reports that things seemed to be stabilizing. He told tower control, "We are going to stay out here for a little while and play with things little bit and see if we can get back."

Investigators said the plane began a gradual left turn and the pilot requested and was approved to make a landing. The pilot said, "We have a control emergency there, a hard right aileron." A few minutes later he reported the plane was on a three mile final. Officials said the plane remained closely aligned with the runway centerline throughout the remaining descent. 

Tower controllers along with multiple witnesses reported that as the plane passed close to the taxiway, the engine sound increased and the airplane began a sharp roll to the right. 

They said the plane collided with the river just north of the airplane. 

Both wings with the horizontal stabilizer and elevators separated during the impact and the forward cabin sustained crush damage through to the area of the main wing spar. All major airframe components sank within a few minutes of impact. 

The plane was recovered by a diving team from the Spokane County Sheriff's department over a two day period a week after the accident.

OXO RECALLS NEST BOOSTER SEATS DUE TO FALL HAZARD. AS EXPECTED THEY WERE MADE IN CHINA


MAY 21, 2015

Recall Summary 

Name of product: 

Nest Booster Seat

Hazard:
The stitching on the restraint straps can loosen which allows the straps to separate from the seat, posing a fall hazard to children.

Units
About 25,000 in the U.S. and 130 in Canada

Description
This recall involves the Nest Booster Seat sold in green (model 6367200), pink (model 6367300), taupe (model 6367500) and orange (model 6367400) with a white base. A sticker affixed to the underside of the seat reads “Nest Booster Seat” with the model number and manufacture date. The manufacture date code represents the month and year in MMYY format and recalled units have the code: 0714, 0814, 0914, 1014, 1114 or 1214. The formed plastic seats are about 13 inches wide by 14 inches tall by 12 inches deep and have a grey three-point child restraint strap system. The OXO logo is embossed on the restraint system’s buckle.

Incidents/Injuries
The firm has received five reports of the stitching coming undone releasing the straps following a child pulling on the strap or an adult tightening the straps. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy
Consumers should immediately stop using the Nest booster seats and contact OXO for a free repair kit with redesigned safety straps and installation instructions.

Sold at
buybuy Baby, Toys R Us/Babies R Us and independent specialty stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from September 2014 through April 2015 for about $55.

Importer(s)
OXO, of El Paso, Texas
Manufactured in
China

1 PERSON DEAD AFTER A CESSNA 210 SMALL PLANE CRASHES NEAR LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA





This single-engine Cessna 210 flying from Concord to Reid-Hillview Airport crashed near Livermore. It went missing Thursday night, but was found Friday morning, May 22, 2015.

MAY 22, 2015

LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA

One person is dead after a plane crashed near Livermore Thursday night or Friday morning, according to the Alameda County coroner's bureau and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Civil Air Patrol pilots found the wreckage of an aircraft Friday morning near Livermore, according to information from the FAA.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said that according to preliminary information, a single-engine Cessna 210 en route to Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose from Concord was overdue Thursday.

Gregor said according to local authorities the pilot was the only person on board.

Officials with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash, Gregor said. The NTSB will be the lead investigating agency.

An official with the Alameda County coroner's bureau said someone from the bureau was on the way to the crash site Friday afternoon.

DRIVERS: MANAGE TIRE RISKS FOR A SAFER RIDE. Tire Maintenance and Registration Can Decrease Crash Risk



The Problem: 

More than 600 people are killed and about 19,000 are injured in tire-related crashes each year. 

Many of these crashes resulted from poor tire maintenance, including failure to maintain proper inflation, check for adequate tread, monitor for damage, or have repairs made properly. 

According to a survey conducted in 2014 by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, 69 percent of vehicles had at least one underinflated tire. 

Very few motorists register their tires with the manufacturer, making it less likely that the manufacturer will contact them in the event of a tire recall.


What to Do: 

Register your new tires with the manufacturer, so you receive tire recall notices. 

You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. If your tire pressure monitoring system activates, check your tires as soon as possible.

Inflate your tires to the pressures indicated in your vehicle owner’s manual or on the “Tire and Loading Information” label located on the driver’s side door edge (or post) of your vehicle. Do not use the pressure printed on the tire sidewall. 

When checking your tire pressure, also examine your tires for punctures, signs of uneven tread wear, bald spots, bulges or bumps, cuts or cracks in the sidewall, or any other abnormalities. These problems can lead to tire failure.

Don’t forget your spare! Tires can degrade even when not in use, so keep your spare tire properly inflated and check it monthly for problems. 

To prolong the life of your tires, remember to rotate, balance, and align your tires in accordance with the information in your vehicle owner’s manual. 

If you hear an unusual sound coming from a tire, slow down and have your tires checked immediately. 

Interested in More Information? 

Education is critical to maintaining your tires properly. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for tire information specific to your vehicle. The US Department of Transportation, tire manufacturers, tire retailers, and others have published helpful tips online about properly maintaining, replacing, and registering your tires, as well as about checking for safety recalls. You can find valuable information at the following websites: 

US Department of Transportation (http://www.safercar.gov/tires)
Rubber Manufacturers Association (http://www.rma.org/tire-safety)
Tire Industry Association (http://www.tireindustry.org/consumer-safety)

This NTSB safety alert and others can be accessed from the NTSB’s Safety Alerts web page at http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts.

NTSB Safety Alert Encourages Drivers to Check Their Tires for a Safer Ride






WASHINGTON, DC

In advance of Tire Safety Week, which begins on May 24, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a Safety Alert today outlining how tire registration and periodic maintenance can reduce the risk of crashes.

More than 600 people are killed and about 19,000 are injured in tire-related crashes each year, and tire blowouts are more common during the summer months when temperatures rise.  

“Drivers can feel more assured that they and their families will reach their destination safely by keeping tires properly inflated and by checking that they have adequate tread depth and are free of visible damage,” said NTSB Chairman Christopher A. Hart. 

“We encourage everyone to set reminders on their phones, tablets, and computers to check the tire pressure on their vehicles at least monthly.”

The Safety Alert includes additional information on registering new tires, properly maintaining spare tires, and links to additional online resources.

This and many other Safety Alerts are available at at http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts/Documents/SA_TireSafety.pdf.  This document is copied below.




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 DRIVERS: MANAGE TIRE RISKS FOR A SAFER RIDE.  Tire Maintenance and Registration Can Decrease Crash Risk 

The Problem: 

More than 600 people are killed and about 19,000 are injured in tire-related crashes each year. 

Many of these crashes resulted from poor tire maintenance, including failure to maintain proper inflation, check for adequate tread, monitor for damage, or have repairs made properly. 

According to a survey conducted in 2014 by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, 69 percent of vehicles had at least one underinflated tire. 

Very few motorists register their tires with the manufacturer, making it less likely that the manufacturer will contact them in the event of a tire recall.


What to Do: 

Register your new tires with the manufacturer, so you receive tire recall notices. 

You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. If your tire pressure monitoring system activates, check your tires as soon as possible.

Inflate your tires to the pressures indicated in your vehicle owner’s manual or on the “Tire and Loading Information” label located on the driver’s side door edge (or post) of your vehicle. Do not use the pressure printed on the tire sidewall. 

When checking your tire pressure, also examine your tires for punctures, signs of uneven tread wear, bald spots, bulges or bumps, cuts or cracks in the sidewall, or any other abnormalities. These problems can lead to tire failure.

Don’t forget your spare! Tires can degrade even when not in use, so keep your spare tire properly inflated and check it monthly for problems. 

To prolong the life of your tires, remember to rotate, balance, and align your tires in accordance with the information in your vehicle owner’s manual. 

If you hear an unusual sound coming from a tire, slow down and have your tires checked immediately. 

Interested in More Information? 

Education is critical to maintaining your tires properly. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for tire information specific to your vehicle. The US Department of Transportation, tire manufacturers, tire retailers, and others have published helpful tips online about properly maintaining, replacing, and registering your tires, as well as about checking for safety recalls. You can find valuable information at the following websites: 

US Department of Transportation (http://www.safercar.gov/tires)
Rubber Manufacturers Association (http://www.rma.org/tire-safety)
Tire Industry Association (http://www.tireindustry.org/consumer-safety)

This NTSB safety alert and others can be accessed from the NTSB’s Safety Alerts web page at http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-alerts.