Roost Air Lounge => Aviation related topics => Topic started by: Turbomallard on June 08, 2007, 08:28:34 PM
Title: The better part of valor
Post by: Turbomallard on June 08, 2007, 08:28:34 PM
As I type this, I'm supposed to be in Wichita, KS, visiting my former boss (now retired) and then flying on to Colorado Springs on Saturday. But I'm at home, not on vacation. Taxiing out this morning in my Piper Arrow, the CHT/EGT on cyl 1 went to ZERO on the digital engine monitor. That's odd, I thought. On the run-up, it came back up and in line with the other cylinders. Since the reading had gone to zero, my thought was the instrumentation probe had quit. On takeoff, all the numbers where right where they were supposed to be, so I continued. I leveled off at 6500, on course for Wichita. Then I started thinking. What if this was a different problem? The engine had some oil leak issues and is right about at TBO (it was scheduled to go in for that at the end of the month). I had been waiting to take this trip since last fall and was desperately looking forward to it. The temptation to continue on was overwhelming. Then I asked myself what I would tell somebody else to do if they were in the same situation, and what the accident investigators would ask if it turned out to be a problem, and how I would respond when they asked why I continued on when I saw the strange readings.
With great reluctance, I turned back and landed. The maintenance crew all said, to a person, that it was most likely a sensor issue. They'd look at it while I went and had lunch and fix it for me, and I'd be on my way. While at lunch, my cell phone rang. It was not an instrumentation issue... the engine block was cracked. Had I gone on, I may well have ended up landing in a field someplace, possibly with a blown cylinder or worse.
The vacation I've been dreaming of for about six months is now scrapped. Disappointed doesn't begin to describe my feelings at not being able to fly, have fun, and see my friends. But... the airplane is back at home base in one piece, and we're going to bump up the overhaul by a couple of weeks. I'm sure in a few months, I'll be happy with how it worked out.
TM
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: gibbo_335 on June 08, 2007, 08:44:24 PM
WOAH TM :o
So glad you turned back, and got back safely and YOU are OK. Engines can be fixed, and friends will understand when you can't make it, BUT broken ducks are real hard to mend. Phew...and sorry about your vacation :(
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: TheSoccerMom on June 08, 2007, 09:11:09 PM
Ah, Turbo! |:)\
Well done, sir. A good call, and yes, you will be looking back with satisfaction on today's events, for a long time to come. :)
My hat is off to you. |:)\
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: Turbomallard on June 09, 2007, 12:49:52 AM
Thanks, friends!
I'd been planning this trip for a loooong time, and with schedules and the maintenance I doubt I'll be able to try again until NEXT May! ::banghead:: ::banghead:: ::banghead:: ::banghead:: ::banghead:: ::banghead::
And my friend was going to introduce me to her friend who is a pilot and works at Lockheed... I was going to save all the trouble and ask her to marry me right away.
Anyway, there's a pizza on the way, and I have a couple of beers in the fridge that won't be there in the morning. And I only drink one at a time and every few months. My neighbors are going to hear Top Gun blasting away right after the pizza gets here!!! ::drinking::
TM
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: airtac on June 09, 2007, 04:40:06 AM
ATTA WAY DUCK |:)\ You'll live to fly another day!!!
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: Fabo on June 09, 2007, 11:31:56 AM
And my friend was going to introduce me to her friend who is a pilot and works at Lockheed... I was going to save all the trouble and ask her to marry me right away.
Werent you going to marry Mary?
Anyway, when mountaing goes to Muhmad not, has Muhmad to go to the mountain... arrange for her to come to see you ;)
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: FlyboyGil on June 09, 2007, 01:21:02 PM
Quote
Werent you going to marry Mary?
Mary, Airtac. Is there something you guys want to tell me? ::sulk:: ::sulk::
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: Fabo on June 09, 2007, 03:44:53 PM
Mary, Airtac. Is there something you guys want to tell me? ::sulk:: ::sulk::
Was it you then? I ahve no idea, my memory has many leaks recently ::loony::
Remember, you're going to be buzzing the wedding in your MIG!! Gotta make sure you get the right wedding :D
Title: Good Call, Mallard!
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on June 10, 2007, 09:27:30 PM
Glad to hear you made it back ok, Mallard. You actually listened to that little voice in the back of your head that says airplanes don't change readings like this unless there's a reason. Sorry to hear this was an expensive reason, but at least you made TBO on your engine.
Now I know it is frustrating, but it isn't that long a drive from CLS to ICT! Heck, I once drove from Colorado Springs to Newton KS in about 8 hours flat. Granted, I was trying to run away from a real nasty winter storm that was descending out of the Rocky Mountains but it can be done!
Title: Re: Good Call, Mallard!
Post by: Turbomallard on June 11, 2007, 02:05:32 AM
Glad to hear you made it back ok, Mallard. You actually listened to that little voice in the back of your head that says airplanes don't change readings like this unless there's a reason. Sorry to hear this was an expensive reason, but at least you made TBO on your engine.
Now I know it is frustrating, but it isn't that long a drive from CLS to ICT! Heck, I once drove from Colorado Springs to Newton KS in about 8 hours flat. Granted, I was trying to run away from a real nasty winter storm that was descending out of the Rocky Mountains but it can be done!
Thanks for the kind words. I'm still trying to figure out how the low readings were the result of the crack... maybe they weren't! I live in Illinois, so it's a bit far to drive... plus, knowing my luck, my 10 year old car would develop an engine crack, too! ::silly::
The photo shows the crack... this is underneath looking up. The crack runs pretty much along the base of #1 cyl. It was hard to find, as it's blocked by lots of parts, and the engine had leaks to begin with, masking it. My hope now is to get the machine back in the air by early August. If that doesn't happen, no trips for me until next May (working in higher ed you don't get multiple days of except in May-early August (but the good part is you can get just about any day off you want, even on short notice, during that period)).
So I spent the day getting crap done around the house... checking the attic to see if mice ate some electical wires over the winter, starting to re-seal my deck (cursing every time a plane flew over). ::complaining: ::complaining: ::complaining:
Hee hee.
TM
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: TheSoccerMom on June 11, 2007, 02:28:31 AM
:D
Dear Mister T. Mallard Quack, So sorry to hear of your engine crack. Bad luck can sure give us an unwelcome whack But, with good thinking, to safe ground you did make it back.
For the wedding you may try a different tack, Make HER fly up to your T.Mallard shack. Then at some point before she has to go back, You'll know whether for Mallards she has the knack.
With luck, your beloved plane will heal right on track, And when the mechanic calls, it won't be with smack. So maybe you'd better run off and pack, For soon, you'll be flying, right back on track.
QUACK, QUACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: FlyboyGil on June 11, 2007, 02:32:40 AM
Dear Mister T. Mallard Quack, So sorry to hear of your engine crack. Bad luck can sure give us an unwelcome whack But, with good thinking, to safe ground you did make it back.
For the wedding you may try a different tack, Make HER fly up to your T.Mallard shack. Then at some point before she has to go back, You'll know whether for Mallards she has the knack.
With luck, your beloved plane will heal right on track, And when the mechanic calls, it won't be with smack. So maybe you'd better run off and pack, For soon, you'll be flying, right back on track.
QUACK, QUACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D
With apologies to Dr. Seuss. :P :P :P :P :P :D :D :D
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: TheSoccerMom on June 11, 2007, 02:36:42 AM
WHAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAA, yes, sorry to the Green Eggs guy!!! ::bow::
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: Turbomallard on June 11, 2007, 03:19:08 AM
Wow! Very clever indeed! ::bow:: ::bow:: ::bow:: ::bow::
There seems to be no end to your talents. Do you talk to ATC that way? ::rofl:: ::rofl::
TM
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: TheSoccerMom on June 11, 2007, 03:41:15 AM
I'll try it the next time I call them!!
"Uh, Boise ground... I wanna fly around..." Oh boyyyyyy..... ::loony::
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: Turbomallard on June 11, 2007, 03:48:11 AM
I was talking to a friend who flies RJs. They were going into an airport in Michigan and were still at 11,000 ft 15 miles out from where they were supposed to land. The controller came on and told her to descend to 3,000 for the approach and slow to approach speed. My friend replied "Okay... I can do ONE of the two things you just asked me to do. Please tell me which one you want."
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: tundra_flier on June 11, 2007, 08:18:29 AM
Glad to hear you made it back down safely. I had a similar situation a few years back, right after I purchased tundra Toy. Had an odd subtle vibration shortly after takeoff. and immediatly turned back to the airport. Turned out to be the center main bearing was starting to slip in it's race...ie failure was immenent.
However, your loss of EGT/CHT temp was probably a glitch in the instrument as a crack there wouldn't have caused a loss of combustion. Divine intervention? ::angel::
Now to really scew with you...it dawned on me after my incient, that if I'd done the stupid thing and flown it till failure, my insurance would have paid for the new engine, and any other damage resulting. But since I did the prudent thing, I had to pay for it all out of pocket! Is it me, or is that just wrong? you'd think there'd be some bonus for saving them from buying me a new plane. ::banghead::
Phil
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: Turbomallard on June 11, 2007, 12:42:55 PM
Now to really scew with you...it dawned on me after my incient, that if I'd done the stupid thing and flown it till failure, my insurance would have paid for the new engine, and any other damage resulting. But since I did the prudent thing, I had to pay for it all out of pocket! Is it me, or is that just wrong? you'd think there'd be some bonus for saving them from buying me a new plane. ::banghead::
Phil
Ha! That's an interesting point! Maybe I'll have them put 'er back together and go blasting around the local area with the power firewalled until it blows! If I stay right over the airport from where I could make an emergency landing... hmmmm....
I was telling somebody that I had strongly considered having the overhaul done back in December/January, when the weather was bad, so the plane would be available all summer. I said that had I done that, I'd be hanging out in Colorado right now. My friend brought up an interesting point: The block probably wasn't cracked at that point, and if there had been no immediate signs, they would have overhauled the engine and the crack would have occurred anyway, requiring that a new block be purchased and work close to the overhaul level be done AGAIN. If the overhaul shop claimed it wasn't their fault because it was a preexisting problem, I could have been out one [CENSORED]ing bunch of money. ::sick::
TM
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: airtac on June 11, 2007, 03:28:27 PM
BWAAAAAAHHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAA------------------Soccermom, you are too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::rofl::
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: TheSoccerMom on June 12, 2007, 09:07:58 PM
You know how it goes, when I can't find my pills..... :P
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: tundra_flier on June 12, 2007, 09:19:31 PM
Quote
I was telling somebody that I had strongly considered having the overhaul done back in December/January, when the weather was bad, so the plane would be available all summer. I said that had I done that, I'd be hanging out in Colorado right now. My friend brought up an interesting point: The block probably wasn't cracked at that point, and if there had been no immediate signs, they would have overhauled the engine and the crack would have occurred anyway, requiring that a new block be purchased and work close to the overhaul level be done AGAIN. If the overhaul shop claimed it wasn't their fault because it was a preexisting problem, I could have been out one [CENSORED]ing bunch of money.
The case was cracked?! From the photo it looked like the base of the cylinder was all that was cracked. And the cylinders and pistons are usually replaced during a major overhaul.
Phil
Title: Re: Good Call, Mallard!
Post by: spacer on June 12, 2007, 10:41:35 PM
Glad to hear you made it back ok, Mallard. You actually listened to that little voice in the back of your head that says airplanes don't change readings like this unless there's a reason. Sorry to hear this was an expensive reason, but at least you made TBO on your engine.
Now I know it is frustrating, but it isn't that long a drive from CLS to ICT! Heck, I once drove from Colorado Springs to Newton KS in about 8 hours flat. Granted, I was trying to run away from a real nasty winter storm that was descending out of the Rocky Mountains but it can be done!
Heh. Reminds me of the time I lost my turbo on Ike, just before reaching the top. Ended up sitting through the snowstorm I was trying to avoid, and someone else got the take on my load when they took it over. Pocketbook got real light, real quick.
Title: Re: The better part of valor
Post by: Turbomallard on June 13, 2007, 12:00:02 AM
The case was cracked?! From the photo it looked like the base of the cylinder was all that was cracked. And the cylinders and pistons are usually replaced during a major overhaul.
Phil
Hard to see, but yep, it's the block that's cracked, at the base of the cylinder (just like its owner). Got some good numbers for a factory overhauled engine, and a new prop (it's been 20 years since the prop was overhauled and the shop had doubts on it's going around a third time... and Hartzell is giving a good deal right now... not much more than an overhaul and a new hub (which has to be replaced or removed and shipped off for inspection every year thanks to a nice AD)). So. I'm going to empty out the piggy bank. :'( And get the Garmin 430 upgraded before the price on that goes up next month! Overall, all of the above, although it'll hit the wallet hard for the short term, is an excellent long term investment and will be cheaper in the long run. The timeline makes it doubtful that I'll get in a vacation before next May, though! Ratz.
