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A PA28 pilot reports that the wind advisory that he received as a courtesy from an FBO was in error by as much as 60 degrees in direction.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 395190 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199802 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bhb |
| State Reference | ME |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach landing other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 850 flight time type : 850 |
| ASRS Report | 395190 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | observation : observer |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
I called for a 'field advisory' and the FBO reported wind from 340 degrees 22 KTS gusting to 35 KTS. I had the luxury of following a commuter turboprop who landed runway 4. They reported wind 'down the runway and steady.' I landed runway 4, no problem. Had I attempted runway 33 (ie, believed the FBO), I would have had a severe crosswind which exceeded the demonstrated crosswind component of the aircraft. After landing, I asked to see the FBO wind monitor. It was indeed heading 340 degrees 22 KTS gusting to 35 KTS. The FBO wind equipment was 'home WX station' quality. The FBO reporter was a clerk, not trained in WX observation. FBO's everywhere offer 'field advisories' as a courtesy. They are often inaccurate -- in this case dangerously so. I suggest that when an FAA approved WX monitoring device is present on a field, the FBO not report wind. Other equipment on an aircraft must be placarded inoperative if it is not accurate, so should an FBO's wind equipment. Someone is going to get hurt!
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PA28 PLT RPTS THAT THE WIND ADVISORY THAT HE RECEIVED AS A COURTESY FROM AN FBO WAS IN ERROR BY AS MUCH AS 60 DEGS IN DIRECTION.
Narrative: I CALLED FOR A 'FIELD ADVISORY' AND THE FBO RPTED WIND FROM 340 DEGS 22 KTS GUSTING TO 35 KTS. I HAD THE LUXURY OF FOLLOWING A COMMUTER TURBOPROP WHO LANDED RWY 4. THEY RPTED WIND 'DOWN THE RWY AND STEADY.' I LANDED RWY 4, NO PROB. HAD I ATTEMPTED RWY 33 (IE, BELIEVED THE FBO), I WOULD HAVE HAD A SEVERE XWIND WHICH EXCEEDED THE DEMONSTRATED XWIND COMPONENT OF THE ACFT. AFTER LNDG, I ASKED TO SEE THE FBO WIND MONITOR. IT WAS INDEED HDG 340 DEGS 22 KTS GUSTING TO 35 KTS. THE FBO WIND EQUIP WAS 'HOME WX STATION' QUALITY. THE FBO RPTR WAS A CLERK, NOT TRAINED IN WX OBSERVATION. FBO'S EVERYWHERE OFFER 'FIELD ADVISORIES' AS A COURTESY. THEY ARE OFTEN INACCURATE -- IN THIS CASE DANGEROUSLY SO. I SUGGEST THAT WHEN AN FAA APPROVED WX MONITORING DEVICE IS PRESENT ON A FIELD, THE FBO NOT RPT WIND. OTHER EQUIP ON AN ACFT MUST BE PLACARDED INOP IF IT IS NOT ACCURATE, SO SHOULD AN FBO'S WIND EQUIP. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT!
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.