"Don't pull the throttle back until you want to land"

This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen cover the basics. An owner wants to know if he should pull the throttle or propeller first in a climb, another wonders what the ideal power setting is for the run-up. Plus, mis-fueling and tired turbos. Email [email protected] for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full show notes below: John has a 210 and wants the definitive answer on whether to pull back the power or prop first. Paul said he has a 5-minute restriction on full power. He suggests after 1,000 feet, reduce the rpm only to 2600 rpm. Then reduce the mixture in the climb to maintain the exhaust gas temperature that was roughly at takeoff. Then when he gets to cruise he can set the rpm where he wants. But leave the throttle wide open all the time. Paul sets the rpm where the engine runs smoothest. After the mixture and prop are set, then he can go lean of peak. Mike said lean of peak is usually most effective at lower rpm. Ingram bought a Diamond DA-40 with the Austro engine and he’s worried about mis-fueling. The POH isn’t helpful because it only says to drain and flush the tanks if mis-fueling is suspected. The hosts aren’t aware of a test kit that ensures he gets jet fuel, so they recommend smelling the fuel sample because avgas and jet fuel smell much different. Justin wants to know whether to believe his instructor and general guidance, or the manual. He said he was taught to do the run-up at 1,800 rpm, but the engine manual for his airplane said to run it up at 50 to 65 percent power. Mike said it’s better to run the engine up lean, and that 1,800 is perfectly fine. Without proper cooling, he worries about engine wear with regular high-power run-ups. Royal is wondering if the turbo in his TR182 is losing it’s oomph flying higher. Paul said the fact that it’s turbonormalized means it lasts longer. The waste gate on his system is open until he gets much higher than most. Mike said turbochargers generally don’t lose power. It’s more likely the throttle linkage has changed over the many years that he’s owned the airplane. Paul said cam lobe wear can also be an issue.

This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen tell a flight school owner not to throw away a perfectly good engine. Plus, the origins of the annual inspection, safety wire, and poor engine monitor guidance. Email [email protected] for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Mike has a Cessna 150 with a bunch of advanced avionics, including a Garmin GI275 as primary engine instrumentation. The oil temperature setting frustrates him because it’s flashing cautionary at 200 degrees and warning at 210 degrees. The POH says the max is 240 degrees. Paul said the engine monitor should match the original gauge, so if there wasn’t a cautionary range on the original there shouldn’t be one on the electronic instrument. David is challenging the maintenance norms. He’s wondering how the FAA originally came up with the idea and time frame of the annual inspection. Mike thinks it’s arbitrary because some things should go less than a year, and some can go much longer. Firewall forward and wheels and brakes should probably be less than a year, but things like cable tensions could go less. The phased inspections that turbines go through is more logical, he thinks. The airplane in Albert’s flight school is difficult to start, and his mechanics can’t figure out why. They’ve looked at spark plugs, adjusted the fuel, fuel servo, magnetos, and more. They recommended replacing the engine next. Don’t do that, the hosts say. Mike asks for the starting procedure. In Albert’s write up he mentioned having to wait some time prior to trying to start again. Mike said the only way that would happen is if the engine is continuously flooded during starts. Paul said if there’s leakage in the flow divider, the engine can become overprimed because its as if it is being continually primed. Colleen said it’s not a bad idea to check the ignition harness and other electrical components. And Paul said to also look at the P-leads. Slavic is learning to fly helicopters and he was surprised to find that none of the oil filters were safety wired, and he wants to know if it’s safe. The hosts are shocked. However, a safety bulletin from Robinson says that it’s not required.

This episode a perspective owner wonders about the cost of tying down outside. Plus fuel pump problems, major versus minor, and more. Email [email protected] for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Steve’s primer in his Saratoga sat for a long time and was pumping air when he came back to fly it. He had to track a fitting to get it to pump fuel again. Paul thought that since the pump is lower than the level of the fuel tank, then it should have probably been ok with the long break from flying. He suggested that air had gotten in the system somewhere other than the pump. Although the problem hasn’t re-occurred, he wants to be sure there aren’t underlying problems. The hosts think since there aren’t any stains from leaking fuel that he probably doesn’t have an issue. Dennis is looking to buy an airplane and he’s trying to establish the maintenance costs difference between having a hangar and being on a tie-down. They recommended a cabin cover to try and keep the water and UV out of the interior. Dennis is worried about the freeze-thaw cycle during his cold winters, but the hosts aren’t concerned. Paul said not to worry about all the snow that sits on airplanes during the winter either. Dennis asks about glass versus steam, and they suggest that maybe glass would fare better in cold weather. Mark wants to install an air conditioner as a minor alteration in an Aerostar. He and the hosts talk in detail about the challenging issue of minor versus major alterations and what’s involved in that decision. Mark’s concern is that the air conditioner should have a few operating recommendations about usage, recharge, and so on, and he is worried about pushing into the major category. Adding limitations and a flight manual supplement would do that, but the hosts think he could legally offer operating suggestions that don’t cross into limitations. Andrew works at a flight school with some airplanes have that airspeed in knots and some in miles per hour, and he is looking for a way to make life easier for his students. They discuss the issues involved with glass displays that are incorrectly labeled, and what that does to the legality of the airplane. Mike thinks so long as the original backup instrument is still legal that is probably ok.

Is there a limit to how much oil consumption is too much? This episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this important question. Email [email protected] for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Jim has a Cardinal with 3,000 hours on the engine. Everything looks good, except that the oil consumption has increased substantially. They tried the ring flush procedure, and saw the fluid coming out of the carb intake and exhaust manifold. The second cylinder took an immense amount of effort to pull the prop through. They took that cylinder off, and found that the oil control ring had a lot of crud. Mike said he wouldn’t get too invasive in order to solve the problem. It’s not a safety of flight issue. They suggest replacing the cylinders only if the oil consumption bothers Jim and his partner. Jim’s partner suggested also overhauling the bottom end with cylinder changes. They advise against it, instead looking at the cam when the cylinders are off. Mike wonders if the ring flush was done wrong. None of the fluid should come out of the exhaust or carb. He and Paul said they’ve never seen fluid come out of the valves. They recommend trying again. Nicolas and his partner disagree on how often they should change the oil on their Grumman Tiger. His partner wants to change the oil before the winter, when they usually only fly a few hours, and then again in the spring, when they fly around 30 hours. Mike said the oil change intervals are inexact. As the airplane is flown, the oil gets increasingly corrosive. He suggests not letting the airplane sit with old oil throughout the winter. So that’s when he would change it. He’s wondering if he can avoid changing the oil in the spring after only flying for seven hours over the winter. The hosts agree that it’s probably fine not to change the oil at that point. They recommend also getting a dehydrator to keep the inside of the engine dry. John has a twin Cessna with one engine that quits when it’s cold. Mike said the fuel pressure at low rpm isn’t high enough. Or the idle mixture isn’t rich enough, or there’s something wrong with the flow divider. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to adjust the fuel pressure or the idle mixture on the fuel control unit. Paul said his Cirrus does the same thing in winter. He thinks it’s the fuel divider. Cheryl has a Skycatcher with a window tint and she is concerned about its legality, and whether it should be noted in the airframe logbook. So long as it doesn’t inhibit the view, the hosts think it’s fine.

Can you fly a turbocharged airplane lean of peak? Absolutely! This episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen describe how to do it. Email [email protected] for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below. Mike flies a turbo 206 and a 421 and is trying to fly lean of peak but the airplanes are running a bit rough. He wonders if there are tricks on turbocharged engines. The GAMI spread is half a gallon, so that’s not an issue. Paul said to start by getting the magneto timing really close and gap the spark plugs very tight. Mike said he might be trying to keep the cylinders too cool, which would make it run rougher. He recommends targeting 400 or 410 degrees on the Lycoming engines. Adam read Mike’s column in AOPA PILOT about LSA viability when the manufacturer goes out of business. He’s been interested in buying an LSA, but the story gave him pause. The FAA wants nothing to do with LSAs, Mike said. The hosts then discuss the differences between certification and ASTM acceptance, and what it means to potential owners. Garhett has had a bunch of maintenance-related failures, and it has prompted him to be more involved in his airplane’s maintenance. He’s now wondering the best way to obtain his A&P certificate. Paul suggests he should start by reading the FAA manuals. It took Mike 10 years to amass the required hours by working on his own airplanes under supervision. Short of going to school or getting a job as an apprentice, this is the best route. They then discuss creative ways to build experience. Victoria wonders how to keep the family airplane clean when the airport doesn’t allow water to be used. Mike and Paul suggest flying somewhere else and washing it. Colleen said she would use water or cleaner wax from a spray bottle. Paul really likes Crazy Clean, but cautions against using anything other than water during pollen season. For windshields, Paul said Cessna recommends a lot of water, Dawn, and your hand. Definitely don’t use power tools, they say.

A light oil mist on his windscreen has one caller concerned he needs to split the case. Plus, Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle cold cabins, tire changes, and horsepower calculations. Email [email protected] for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Grant has a Mooney M20F and he’s seeing a light mist of oil on the windscreen after flying. His mechanic thought it was coming from a case bolt, which he re-torqued. That didn’t solve the problem, and the mechanic said the proper way to fix it would be to split the case, which Grant doesn’t want to do. Paul said that’s not the problem anyway. He said misting oil on the windscreen is almost always the crankshaft seal or the prop o-ring, both which should be fixed together. The parts are cheap, and the job is relatively easy. Colleen just did this on her airplane and describes the process. Joe’s kids are freezing in the back seat of the family Cherokee. They’ve put tape around some gaps, and while it’s helped a little, it’s still very drafty. Paul mentions the spar carry-through gap between the cabin and the wing. There’s supposed to be a piece of foam in the gap, but often when the wings are removed the foam isn’t replaced. The floor is lifted up, and you can look in the gap with a flashlight and mirror to see if the foam is there. The rear spar also has a gap where there should be rubber discs glued onto the box where the flight controls pass through. Todd is curious how JPI derives the horsepower number. Mike said JPI keeps the math as a closely held secret. But he said there’s a right way to do it, and it's how Savvy does it. Power is regulated by air or fuel, whichever is in shortest supply. Rich of peak, you have more fuel than the engine can combust, so air is in short supply. Mass airflow is therefore the power determinate, which can be calculated with manifold pressure and rpm. MP is how much air goes into the cylinder, and rpm is how often that happens. Multiplying the two gives the mass airflow number. Power when lean of peak is a function of fuel flow. Fuel flow times a set number based on the compression ratio gives horsepower. He thinks the engine monitor doesn’t know whether it is rich or lean of peak, so it probably computes it both ways, and the lower number is the right one. Seth has some dry rot on his tires and he’s wondering if that means he needs to change thems. Desser says they need to be replaced when the cord is showing, and his mechanic says the dry rot means it should be changed. The hosts agree with the manufacturer that there’s no minimum tread depth, and to keep going.

A Vans customer wonders what to do next, and a 172 pilot asks if carb heat is really necessary all the way to the ground. Plus, the best spark plugs, and a vexing gear issue are on tap for Mike, Paul, and Collen this time. Email [email protected] to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Greg has a kit from Vans on order and he’s wondering what to do next. He can replace his quick build wing kit with the small cracks installed, but he wants to know if he should order replacements. Paul said when sheet metal work is done on certified aircraft in the field, a lot of cracks naturally come up. Greg said a customer has to agree to accept the modified terms of the new contract, and you have to either accept what they send you, or spend money on a second kit. Paul said to deburr as little as possible. The goal is clean, sharp corners, not a knife edge that can cut the rivet. Just barely touch the hole, he said. Travis has an unusual gear problem. He was tasked with ferrying a Wheeler Express RG, an unusual experimental. On the ground the gear works perfectly, but when flying it won’t reliably retract. The system is based on a Glasair 3, and Colleen said the Glasair racers have a similar experience with their airplanes at Reno. On a ferry flight the hydraulic fluid built pressure over a few hours, and Travis had to select the gear down lever in order to release the pressure. Paul said not to spend any more time on the system, and replace it with something from Cessna. Brian wants to get to the bottom of the fine wire and massive plug choice. His shop said he had to replace all 12 fine wire plugs at the last annual, all with around 800 hours on them. The shop recommended Temptest massives, which is what he did. He’s wondering if there’s really a difference in performance. Paul said fine wires tend to idle a little better and smoother. Corrosion was an issue on older Champion fine wires, which is what Brian had. And the ceramic is thicker on Tempest. Fine wires also last longer, usually long enough to cover the additional cost. Mike said they cost about four times as much, but last four times as long. He said some people also report smoother operation at very lean mixtures and small fuel economy improvements. Colleen has fine wire Tempests in her Cardinal but massives in her Skybolt. Her fine wires run a bit cleaner and don’t need to be gapped. Brian has seen a larger EGT differential when flying lean of peak with the massives. Dennis has a 172 and he wants to know if it’s really necessary to keep carb heat on all the way to the ground. Mike said a newer Lycoming Skyhawk is less susceptible to carb ice, but his Continental O-300 is much more likely to produce ice. He recommends installing a carb heat gauge if he really wants to avoid having the carb heat on longer than necessary.

This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner with an engine that randomly dies after 2100 rpm. Plus, the role of avgas as a lubricant, prop governor issues, and getting back into maintenance. Email your question to [email protected] for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Dennis has a Cardinal RG with a prop governor issue. When it’s warm, the prop underspeeds just a little. He’s done a bunch of troubleshooting, and he is at a loss. The manufacturer said to send his prop in, but he is reluctant to do that given how often prop shops deem them unfit for continued service. Dennis is an A&P and he asks if he is allowed to open up the governor and work on it. Mike said he doesn’t advise it because he both can’t do it legally and doesn’t have the right tools. Both Paul and Colleen said their props do the same thing, and they recommend he crank up the rpm just a little since a small amount of overspeed is allowed under the type design. Luis is looking to get back into aviation maintenance after earning an A&P many years ago. The hosts debate the FAR, which says that a mechanic is current if the Administrator deems he or she so, or if the mechanic has served as a technician for the past six months. The hosts think Luis should use the preventative maintenance provisions to do the work without supervision. Jeff built an airplane with a PZL Franklin 235 and the engine won’t make full power. The static rpm is 2800, and anything beyond 2100 kills the engine. He thinks either his homemade exhaust is causing too much back pressure, or there was a manufacturing issue. He wonders if there’s a way to isolate the problem. The ignition timing is set to 32 degrees, which is the manufacturer spec. Mike and Paul recommend backing off the timing first to see what happens. Paul suggests he could also remove part of the exhaust to see what happens. Josh wonders if we are too eager to get off avgas, specifically because of its proprieties as a lubricant. He’s always heard that it lubricates valves, but Mike thinks it’s probably not a concern. It’s true that before valve seats were hardened, there was some microwelding, which led to valve seat recession. Lycoming switched to hardened valve seats in the 90s, and Continental switched in the early 2000s. There is a possibility that some of the older Continental cylinders could have problems with valve recession, but it's too early to tell. He details the work that AOPA is doing with the dual-fuel Baron, which is seeking to understand some of these issues.

Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner raise his oil temperatures, explain the rules around ELT battery replacements, debate the merits of a tuned exhaust, and help an owner whose airplane won't quit. Email [email protected] for your chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at www.aopa.org/join Full notes below: Chris has a Super Decathlon with CHTs as low as 270 degrees and oil temperature around 150. Even with the oil cooler covered during winter, it still doesn’t get hot enough. Mike said they like to see oil temperature up to 200 degrees if possible. Chris can check the vernitherm by putting it in boiling water to see when it actuates. Mike said the oil temperature gauge is typically reading at the coolest part of the process, and the oil may climb 40 degrees higher. Curtis just wanted to change his ELT battery. His mechanic sent it away to a service center. He received an invoice with three options, none of which included replacing the battery. His standby current apparently tested high. Unfortunately Curtis was in an unusual situation with a foreign-produced part. There are two answers, Mike said. There’s the answer where you feel like you have to follow the manual, and one if you follow the regulations. The manual says the battery must be replaced by a Part 145 shop, but the regs allow the owner to do it under preventative maintenance. Mike contends that since the battery replacement section of the manual is not an airworthiness limitation, Curtis can just brush it off. Pierre-Louis and his club in Switzerland have a tuned exhaust system on their airplane and while he is seeing some benefits in terms of fuel burn and climb rate, he is most interested in the smoothness of the engine. He said it feels like having a 6-cylinder engine and he’s wondering if tuned exhaust systems offer better engine longevity. Colleen thinks it’s possible the engine is actually working harder (more horsepower), so she guesses that the engine longevity would be reduced. Mike said he disagrees because the engine isn't producing more power, its power is being used more efficiently. Paul suggests that less vibration is ultimately better for the engine. Frank has a Rockwell Commander 112 and when he shuts it down it sometimes diesels, or won’t entirely quit. Typically it only happens in the summer after a flight when it’s warm. Mike and Paul said the only way that happens is if the mixture doesn’t fully shut off the fuel supply. Mike said the mixture cable to the carb is the first place to check. Colleen suggests that it could be a leaking primer as well. Mike recommends fault isolating it by disconnecting the primer to see if it resolves.

This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen debunk myths, describe valves that are eligible for lapping, and cover the basics of the red box and leaning. Email [email protected] for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: Maciej is a new private pilot who is questioning some operational procedures he was taught. He was taught not to put fuel back into the tanks after sumping it, and he thinks if you sample it and it’s clean, why not put it back? The hosts agree that if the sample is clean, put it back. He also wonders about oversquare on the impact on the propeller. A ground school he took says that it is too hard on the propeller to run it at low rpm and high power. Mike questions the validity of this, and Paul said to go ask the source because it doesn't seem right to him either. George has an airplane with some valve issues. Five of his cylinders have varying levels of green on them. He was told that four could probably be lapped, but the fifth has to be pulled. He’s wondering if green on a valve, which is later lapped clean, weakens or otherwise compromises the valve. Most of the green you see is green deposits, according to Mike. In early days of borescoping cylinders, the colors on the face of the valve were all we had to go on. Now, when we can position the camera between the valve and the seat, and can see if there’s erosion. If there isn’t erosion, it’s a good candidate for lapping. Mike said as long as the valve isn’t a train wreck that it’s worth lapping. Most people don’t do it aggressively enough. Doug is an instructor who was flying a Cessna 182 with a client and the owner didn’t want him to lean, even though they were flying higher than 8,000 feet. Finally he convinced the owner that it was ok to lean a little to smooth out the engine. Apparently the owner was worried about the red box. Since the goal is to stay below 400 degrees on the cylinder head temperatures, Mike thinks it’s hard to get 182 cylinders that hot at altitude, and below 400 degrees there is no red box. Paul makes the point that because power output at 8,000 feet is below 65 percent, you can’t hurt the engine by leaning.