The shop changed the oil in my retractable single and replaced the brake pads. The logbook entry stated they had changed the oil and filter, installed a “quick-drain” oil plug, changed the brake pads, etc. After any kind of maintenance, I’m pretty leery of flying the airplane, so I did a very thorough walk-around: oil level on the dipstick, no leaking from the oil pan plug, full fuel tanks, good flight control surfaces, etc. “Okay,” I thought. “Good to go.”
I had planned to visit nearby airports for practice, but the winds were unfavorable, so I remained in the pattern. Off I went, making one circuit to a full-stop and taxi-back, before taking off again. A touch-and-go was next, and on climb out before turning crosswind, I heard a “ZZZZZZZZZ!!” The propeller went to a very high rpm, like 3600 or so, when 2750 is max. My heart pounded, and I pulled the prop control back, turned crosswind, then downwind and heard the “ZZZZZZZZZ!!” again, followed by propeller surging.
