The Friday before the Presidential election I was returning from Carrollton, Ohio, where I'd been involved in an FAA Aviation Safety Program. The weather briefing had indicated relatively good weather, including warmer than normal temperatures, so icing wasn't going to be a concern. There was a possibility of fog and some low level clouds for the departure, but otherwise the briefing was routine. All except the TFR (temporary flight restriction) at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, directly on my course.
Even in good weather I usually file IFR so the controllers can help me stay honest. Nevertheless, I do try to be aware of where the TFRs are in case I have to deviate or I'm misguided by a controller. The effective time of the TFR was late enough in the day that it shouldn't have been a problem. The TFR was from the ground to 3,000 feet within three nautical miles of some lat/long position and then it migrated a couple clicks down the road and then back again to its original position.
But my departure was delayed for a maintenance requirement. On my inbound flight the day before, the engine had run rough, and although I'd been able to smooth it out with an adjustment to the mixture, I'd also noticed that the EGT (exhaust gas temperature) of the number three cylinder was running hotter than the others. Normally it was the number two cylinder that got high marks for temps. Just to be sure, I wanted to have it checked before the return flight.
I consulted the AOPA Airport Directory that I keep on the passenger seat when Judith's not with me, to see if there was maintenance available at the Carroll County-Tolson Airport (TSO), but the airport information in the book only showed fuel with no maintenance services. I considered landing at Akron-Canton, but decided, since everything seemed to be working correctly, to go ahead and land at TSO.
