Ed makes an excellent point. Most loss of power incidents are not actually an internal engine mechanical failure, but most often a system issue such as fuel.
Dan Hall CNO ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Burkhead" <[email protected]> To: "'jh'" <[email protected]>; "ety" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 7:41 PM Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] ercoupe crashes > > > > I am NOT a mechanic of any type and must not play one on the Internet! > > > I've noticed that series, too. Thanks for doing the lookup and analysis. > Below is my non-expert, pilot-level advice. > > Considering the soft statistic* that 90% plus of engine failures are > caused > by something else, not the engine itself, I'd urge you to: > > 1. Take good care of all the auxiliary systems, fuel, wires, fuel lines, > spark plugs, oil, air filter, amount of fuel, make sure there's no > sloshing > compound in the fuel tanks, etc. (For example, my one "engine" failure > was > gas line ice.) > > 2. Of course, watch for any sign of actual engine problems > > 3. If you detect an engine problem, solve it BEFORE taking off to go fly > again. Don't just make a guess and replace something then go flying to > test > it.** > > 4. Follow the age old wisdom of flying: ALWAYS have a landing spot in > gliding distance. This changes an accident into an incident and that > makes > all the difference! (It did to me. My one "engine" failure was a minor > incident with no damage, no FAA report*** and no 6 o'clock news.) > > Ed > *A "soft statistic" is, like all statistics, made up on the spot as the > best > guess of the speaker or writer. > **Advice from a skilled engine mechanic who said he has watched too many > accidents caused by poor problem resolution and going flying to 'see if > it's > OK now.' > *** I suppose that technically, an FAA report should have been made but no > one was interested in doing so, least of all me. > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.18/2243 - Release Date: 07/17/09 06:08:00
