Airplane Owner Maintenance

In the last podcast episode, we talked about an issue with my friend’s Cirrus SR22, and how the flaps occasionally would not retract. That problem got mostly resolved at the recent annual inspection when they made...

Don’t you just love intermittent problems?! This one has been just that… intermittent. In the 2005 Cirrus SR22, the flaps have 3 positions: up, 50%, and 100%. Our intermittent problem has been that...

<p>This experience was a good one! (At least looking back in 2020 hindsight.)</p> <p>We had to dig deep to fix this one!</p> <p>I was about to give up and started thinking it might be time to take the airplane somewhere...

<p>This morning I felt the inspiration to record a podcast episode…</p> <p>I got my hotel room set up with my computer and my microphone, and there it sat.</p> <p>I missed the window of opportunity… for whatever...

<p>(If you’re in a hurry, scroll down to see the tiny little chafed wire that caused this whole conundrum.)</p> <p>Now here’s the story…</p> <p>This landing gear relay breaker had been popping intermittently:</p> <p>It...

<p>Bennett contacted me awhile back to see if I could lap an exhaust valve for him.</p> <p>The #4 exhaust valve showed a very uneven appearance when viewed with his borescope.</p> <p>Bennett flew in to KSHD one morning...

<p>If you look closely in the photo above, you can see my friend Chris, smiling. </p> <p>It was the day he arrived at Classic Aviation (KSHD) to begin his annual inspection with me.</p> <p>Chris is not only an airplane...

<p>Today’s episode is about Pat’s Mooney, and how we sealed up some exhaust leaks.</p> <p>And it’s a fun story because Pat has become a good friend… check out the above photo where he’s showing his airplane to my...

<p>Last Monday, I lapped the #5 exhaust valve on a Continental engine.</p> <p>But more importantly, I met the owner / pilot of a Turbo Centurion, and now I’m happy to call him a good friend!</p> <p>Thanks for flying all...

<p>Everything looks normal in this photo, right?</p> <p>What we can’t see from this angle is the fact that the brake disc has broken in two pieces!</p> <p>Check it out:</p> <p>Here’s the story:</p> <p>The pilot landed...

<p>This story begins with a squawk from the owner. It went something like this:</p> <p>“When I fly my airplane, on the first landing gear retraction, the gear begins to move and then the “gear pump” circuit breaker...

<p>The week I’m talking about here was almost too full!</p> <p>But I wouldn’t change a thing.</p> <p>A real highlight was taking my Pennsylvania cousin for a short flight in a Piper Cherokee:</p> <p>From Sunday to...

<p>During a recent prebuy evaluation on this nice Beech A36 Bonanza, the question came up, “Does the old analog CHT gauge need to work in order for the airplane to be considered airworthy?”</p> <p>(In this case, the...

<p>This airplane appeared on the ramp not long ago at the Shenandoah Valley Airport in Virginia.</p> <p>I discovered it had taken off, and then very quickly made a 180 and returned for landing due to engine trouble.</p>...

<p>In this podcast episode, we’re talking about alternator maintenance!</p> <p>Here’s the alternator I removed from a Beechcraft Bonanza to inspect the drive coupling and the brushes… note the brush assembly in the...