Systems Check

What you’re checking, and why, and doing them while airborne and when running lean of peak EGT.  

With some basic tools, plus a couple of special ones, you can change your engine’s oil, saving some money and shop time. 

It demands a thorough preflight, and a pilot spring-loaded to abort the takeoff. And maybe stay in the pattern a while?

You always wanted to be a test pilot. Now’s your chance to show everyone that you have the right stuff.

Whether you left the plane out in a storm or picked it up airborne, ice on the airframe can be a challenge to remove.

They can be a worst-case scenario but also create ambiguity, which may delay your reaction and introduce new threats.

Cessna 172M Skyhawk Leaking Tailpipe While carrying out the pressure test in AD CF90-03-R2, large leaks were found in the area surrounding the muffler tailpipe area under the heat muff shroud support structure. No defects in this area were visible. Without the pressure test, this defect would not have been found. It is assumed the […]

Beechcraft Model 58 Baron Broken Propeller Control Cable While en route, the right engine oversped to 3500 rpm and had no control. Shut the engine down and landed with no further problem.  Maintenance ran the right engine and it made takeoff power, but had no propeller control. Found prop control cable broken. Going to remove […]

My little Cessna 140 had just gotten out of a four-month top-end overhaul and it was time to stretch its legs, with a 786-sm flight to Des Moines, Iowa, my hometown. It would replicate my late Dad’s flight in the opposite direction with a few more fuel stops. After watching the weather for 10 days, […]

The takeoff and departure flight phase can be one of the more risky among instrument procedures, especially at night in IMC aviation. On one hand, the pilot is abruptly transitioning from a presumably well-lit runway and airport environment to flying on instruments near terrain. On another hand, the airplane may not be up to the […]