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04-22-2012, 02:56 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
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How did the flight back go?
Tom, I have been following your problems in Taos. How did the flight back go? Did you keep oil pressure and no problems? It must be the worst to not know what was causing the issue.
__________________
rockwoodrv9a
Williamston MI
O-320 D2A
Awaiting DAR Inspection
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04-23-2012, 10:52 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
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Safe at home!
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockwoodrv9
Tom, I have been following your problems in Taos. How did the flight back go? Did you keep oil pressure and no problems? It must be the worst to not know what was causing the issue.
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I made it home with no additional problems. You are correct, not knowing what the problem was (and therefore whether it was/is really fixed) was especially disconcerting being in the mountains. I took off Sunday morning and followed the valley and highway south to Santa Fe, then around the mountains to Las Vegas, NM to check things out (about 45 min). I was on high alert checking pressure, temps, looking for smoke out the back, etc. Not a single hiccup. Dry belly at Las Vegas, topped off fuel and launched for home. Plane was still clean and had all of its oil after another 3 hrs.
On the way home I had a continual debate with myself regarding altitude....high in case if fails? or low in case of fire? Tailwinds up high tipped the scale and gave me a smooth, fast run to home. Fortunately, plenty of airports as options once I was out of eastern NM.
When the saga began, it felt incredibly lonely (no A&Ps, unfriendly terrain, etc) but, thanks to VAF, my home field mechanic, and a local EAA guy willing to loan tools, I had good resources in a couple of hours. I received good ideas and advice, all of which I took the time to follow up on, thereby giving me the confidence to proceed (with caution).
One interesting takeaway....when you are in a warm hangar working under the engine and hear the full fuel tanks gurgling, don't be surprised when fuel squirts out the vent and on to you. Reminded me of a baby spitting up with zero warning...just as funny too.
Thanks again!
__________________
Tom Chandler,
AOPA Regional Manager - Central Southwest
RV-4 bought it, sold it, bought it back, storm totaled it 
ATP, CFII
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04-23-2012, 11:00 AM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVFlyer
I Not a single hiccup. Dry belly at Las Vegas, topped off fuel and launched for home. Plane was still clean and had all of its oil after another 3 hrs.
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Good for you.
Any chance the puddle on the ground was there before you parked over it???
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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04-23-2012, 03:19 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike S
Good for you.
Any chance the puddle on the ground was there before you parked over it???
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Good thought. That was what I first hoped, but when I started the engine it was very rough and down to 60# of oil pressure from its usual mid70s - 80 range. This combination of concerns is what led me to pull the cowl and find the mess of oil on the back of my engine.
One issue I'm still trying to understand was that on the first two run-ups following the discovery of the problem, the engine ran very rough (yes I leaned it aggressively for the high altitude). One thing I found later in the day was a significant amount of oil in the airbox. I think it ran through a vent/drain hole on the top of the box but hadn't found its way out of the vent/drain hole on the bottom. I'm wondering if the oil could have effectively fouled the induction air? This doesn't seem totally plausible as most of it was outside of the air filter, but it's worth considering.
Still running great today but my eyes will be closely tied to the oil gauges for quite some time.
__________________
Tom Chandler,
AOPA Regional Manager - Central Southwest
RV-4 bought it, sold it, bought it back, storm totaled it 
ATP, CFII
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04-23-2012, 03:27 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Yardley, PA
Posts: 1,334
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Well done
Tom, glad you made it back OK - I really felt for you out there.
T.
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04-23-2012, 08:41 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Central Florida - Orlando Area
Posts: 58
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This is a reach, but is there any chance you overfilled the oil?
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Ken
Deland, FL
RV-10
Tail cone in progress
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04-23-2012, 09:01 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVFlyer
I think it ran through a vent/drain hole on the top of the box but hadn't found its way out of the vent/drain hole on the bottom. I'm wondering if the oil could have effectively fouled the induction air? This doesn't seem totally plausible as most of it was outside of the air filter, but it's worth considering.
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I wondered about that too... A little oil mist mixed with the air would rob some power for sure... Not sure why the lower oil pressure though. I wonder if the air/oil separator got a bubble in a hose somehow and you got a blockage there? That might give positive pressure at the breather?
__________________
Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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04-23-2012, 09:03 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
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good to hear your back
Tom, good to hear you didn't have any more issues on the way home. I can imagine the conflict on fly high or low. I think I would rather have to pick a spot quick than deal with a fire! Good luck figuring out what - if anything caused the pressure drop.
__________________
rockwoodrv9a
Williamston MI
O-320 D2A
Awaiting DAR Inspection
Last edited by rockwoodrv9 : 04-23-2012 at 09:04 PM.
Reason: spelling
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