gregpro50

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Everything posted by gregpro50



  1. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    A very interesting NTSB report showing a forced landing due to the carb vents being installed into the air cleaner.
    http://www.asias.faa.gov/pls/apex/f?p=100:17:0::NO::AP_BRIEF_RPT_VAR:ERA14LA089
    And another one because the vent lines ran up on top of the carb.  Rotax states the lines have to be installed in a constant decline.
    http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20101207X53535&ntsbno=ERA11LA079&akey=1
    My vent lines came from out the carbs, then ran uphill into the air filter.  I wonder if this had any influence on the power loss I had.
     
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  2. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    No.  Just enought to give them a pinkish color.  The oil is in a spray can and you basically just dust the element until it turns pink.  It's just a weird coincidence that I had just oiled the filters.  I did it because it looked like they had never been oiled before.  I just wonder if a combination of the vent setup, just oiling the filter, and a low float could have all come together to cause this.
     
    If someone told me to pick the worst spot for a power problem during that flight it wouldn't have been a second earlier or later than when it happened.
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  3. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    You've got me thinking now.  I had just oiled the K&N filter so it makes sense that it would put even more suction on that vent line drawing fuel right into the carb throat.  At least I would think that saturating the element would add more air restriction which would have to change the pressure differential between the float bowl and the inside of the filter.  I mean I had just oiled the filter the day before.
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  4. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    Yes I just read that as well last night when researching.  Lesson learned.  I don't think the overflow would have killed the carb if it was vented to the atmosphere.  Still a fire hazard but I think I would have still had power.  I hope people take note so the same thing doesn't potentially happen to someone else.  I do see a lot of vents going into the filter on other setups.
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  5. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    I hope Doug hasn't seen this because he'd kill me for doing this to his plane.
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  6. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    I would call the prop strike very minor.  It was just the tip of one blade.  I'd be confident in saying the gearbox and internals are just fine.
    I never did use the seats Doug made.  While they were very well made and comfortable I had to use an original set because the cushions were thick and my head would hit the skylight.  I do still have them.
    I'm going to let the dust settle with the insurance before I talk about a potential buyout or rebuild because I am entertaining it myself.  I think it is rebuildable and I am a good welder with experience with 4130.  The wings, tail, and firewall foreward are fine.
    I'm just very happy I was flying this plane and not something else when this happened.  I think the design of it really saved my ass.
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  7. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    This particular engine is a 912.  A little research shows a lot of problems with floats on these.  If at any time in the future I run into questionable carb issues I think I would send them out to get bench tested.  But even then you can have a carb bench tested and have a float slowly absorb fuel and sink.  I just think its a bad design.  My sons go-kart carb has a better float design than these.
    Just as soon as the plane leveled out I think the fuel sloshed forward in the bowl and went out the overflow vent, into the air filter, and right back into the carb throat killing that carb.  I question if the bowl vents should have been going back into the air filter or just venting to the atmosphere.
    Here is a picture of the damage.  The other side is about the same.  I've seen worse get repaired but my flying season is done.

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  8. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    Yes it did.  The gear took most of the impact.  I took a couple pictures once it was back in the hangar but they were pretty dark.  I'll get some more tomorrow.
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  9. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    It's repairable I'm sure.  It's just the typical tubing damage that you see from a hard landing.  But also prop, cowl, skin, and all the little stuff.  It folded the gear back and ended up on its belly.  I'm not going to have the time to fix it myself.  What a nice flying plane it was though and I was thoroughly happy with the handling characteristics
    The plane was about 200 ft agl when the rpms dropped to 3000 and just wasn't making power.  There were all kinds of options taking off on the other runway but options were limited this way.  I think the right decision was made to put it down where we could instead of trying to force something.  I really think the design of the plane saved me from any injury.  It's in the hands of the insurance company now.
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  10. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Power loss. Off field landing...   

    Thanks Ed.
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  11. gregpro50 added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Power loss. Off field landing...
    Had partial power loss on takeoff this morning.  Had to make an off field landing.  Tore the gear out from under it but walked away with out a scratch.  Didn't want to attempt the "impossible turn".  Might have saved my life.  Post mortem looks like I had a sunken float in one of the carbs.  One of the new ones that was just replaced new by rotax after I found a sunken one with the first set they sent me.  Disappointed beyond belief.  I poured my heart and soul into this thing.  I don't know how to feel right now but I'm glad I walked away.
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  12. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Newbie (Kitfox IV)   

    Welcome.  Good to see another KF IV.
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  13. gregpro50 added a post in a topic USB power to iPads   

    Can you tell me what app you are using on the Ipads?  Thanks.
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  14. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Snow in late March   

    And we got absolutely nothing this winter.  My snowmobiles have been nothing but a garage ornament.
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  15. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Zipper Kit   

    That conversion really looks tempting.  These planes really turn into a hole in the sky that you throw money into.  I've been spending money like a drunken sailor on mine and I keep finding new things I want.
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  16. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Fuel fitting sealant   

    This is the stuff I've always used.
    http://www.permatex.com/products-2/product-categories/thread-compounds/thread-sealants/permatex-high-performance-thread-sealant-detail
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  17. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Fuel fitting sealant   

    I was always taught tape was bad.  The last thing you need is a chunk of that stuff floating through a fuel line potentially clogging things up.
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  18. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Zipper Kit   

    Do you have to tune or re-jet the carbs with this?
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  19. gregpro50 added a post in a topic First flight of my new-to-me Kitfox   

    Its got an API tailwheel.  The maule is long gone.  He's flown avids and a couple kitfox knockoffs but this is his first time in a IV.  He said the same thing.  He wants to get good and comfortable in it before any instructing because he doesn't want to instruct to do things the wrong way.  He is the right guy for the job and the most conservative CFI I've ever met.  I've got a long history with him. 
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  20. gregpro50 added a topic in Kitfox IV   

    First flight of my new-to-me Kitfox
    First flight of my plane today after obtaining it back in October.  I went through every nut and bolt, rebuilt the carbs, and made numerous other little changes and adjustments.
    The test pilot was my CFI and family friend who had never flown a Kitfox before.  After ground checks he finally firewalled the throttle and performed an hour of flight testing on it.  He came back down to a perfect 3-point landing with a smile on his face.  Everything was in the green and no surprises.  It needs a little more pitch to the prop but that's it.  I was a nervous wreck watching him on the takeoff roll while simultaneously picturing every nut and bolt I touched in my head.
     

     
     
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  21. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Tailwheel chain tension and allowable offset?   

    This might help.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QtokU8mIDQk
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  22. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Spring Condensation   

    I didn't think we did.  Its the first time it happened in recorded history.  They lost several planes in the top hangar that was in the low spot of the field.  The FBO hangar and the hangar where I now keep mine got a couple feet of water but the newer T-hangars were high and dry thankfully.
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  23. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Spring Condensation   

    I can deal with that.
    This is what my airport looked like a few springs ago...

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  24. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Rotax 912 spark plugs   

    I read it too.  I never knew about the heat transfer paste on the plugs.  I've always just used anti-seize on everything.
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  25. gregpro50 added a post in a topic Flying over Class C Airpsace   

    Pretty soon you'll need ADS-B to fly over C airspace.
     

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