Aircraft Maintenance

Five quarters in a row of growth in the avionics market illustrate the recovery of general aviation following 2020.

It wasn’t a hung start, exactly, but it wasn’t a normal start either. The N2 spun up smartly and fuel flow was normal. The engine began to accelerate, but then it hesitated. The interstage turbine temperature, which had been rising normally, had a sinking spell. Before I could think to do anything about shutting off […]

The FAA has opened the comment period on a nose-gear airworthiness directive (AD) for the Tecnam P2006T piston twin that follows onto a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) initiated under EASA in March 2019. The proposed AD and MCAI address an unsafe condition driven by a manufacturing defect in the nose landing-gear (NLG) piston tube. […]

Carver Aero has expanded into the Chicago region with the acquisition of LumanAir, an FBO based at the Aurora Municipal Airport (KARR) in Illinois. The company adds to its network in Muscatine, Davenport, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, as well as Janesville, Wisconsin, supplying corporate and general aviation services including: Charter flights Pilot services Airplane maintenance […]

We have all been there on a preflight: You come to the point in the checklist when it calls for a check of the tire pressure. Be honest. How many times have you just eye-balled the tire and considered it safe for flight? Most of the time, that’s been good enough. But there have been […]

Aviation has always been a dream and interest in my life. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, not too far away from John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK). I used to wake up to airplanes screaming out of the airport every single morning as child before I got ready for school. One […]

When you’re facing a major update to your legacy airplane’s instrument panel, it’s easy to get distracted by the big-ticket, high-visibility items such as integrated flight decks, navigators, and large-format multifunction displays. While the utility of such cool new avionics appeals, the unsung heroes in a new panel don’t get as much attention—and they should. […]

The NTSB has issued a safety recommendation on the F&M series of oil filter adapters used on a range of piston aircraft engines. Pilots and owners of aircraft using the adapters should be aware of the report and take action as needed. The oil filter adapter allows the use of a spin-on oil filter—rather than […]

I bought N4875D in fall 2012. It’s the first and only airplane I’ve owned, a Mooney M20F. As with any vintage vehicle, it’s been an adventure tracking down the various nits, bugs and deferred maintenance items. We’d been through the hydraulics, engine, prop and fuel system. When I took it in for an annual this […]

What do pilots do when they’re not flying? Good question. While we’ve been featuring a host of educational resources for you, perhaps you’d rather keep your hands busy with a good solid DIY effort. Here’s a round-up of products and sources that may come in handy as you use the current social-distancing protocols to tackle […]