Cap Backwards

The problem with two or more pilots doing the preflight is that one of them always thinks something is the other’s responsibility.

Aviation Safety

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 06:44 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipovic

Key Takeaways:

During a demo flight for a potential aircraft partnership, the pilot encountered an in-flight emergency with engine oil spraying onto the windshield, severely obstructing vision.
The cause was a poorly secured oil cap and dipstick, likely missed during a shared preflight inspection, underscoring a lapse in critical pre-flight checks.
Despite the challenge of an unfamiliar aircraft and obscured vision, the pilot successfully landed the plane, learning the crucial lesson that the pilot in command must personally verify all preflight inspections and not rely on others.

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After a few years of frustrations with local FBOs and trying to rent airplanes for trips, I decided to dip a toe into ownership and find a small flying club or partnership. It didn’t take long to find an owner who wasn’t flying his Cessna 206 much any more and was looking for partners. On paper, it seemed an ideal arrangement. But I needed to know more about the airplane and the owner.

So I met him at the airplane, along with another potential partner. The three of us talked about what a partnership would look like and, of course, the airplane. Eventually, the owner suggested we all three go for a quick hop to demonstrate the airplane.