Help near Borrego Springs, CA?

ksauce · #1 03-30-2008, 03:25 PM

Hi all,

Yesterday I was flying from Vegas to San Diego and had to put down early in Borrego Springs due to a P-Mag problem. I'm hoping it's just a timing thing and a quick reset will be all that's required, but if anyone might be able to point me in the direction of someone with tools I'd be most grateful. I'm not in any rush as I'm in San Diego all week, so I'll gladly work on any schedule. As always, thanks VAF.

frankh · #2 03-30-2008, 03:49 PM

Well first off does the engine run rough on one or both of the Pmags?....

I.e can you describe the symptoms?

If it as you say, either the Pmag has reverted to its original timing or perhaps you have had a magnet shift which the latest fix (return to the factory) will fix..

You might be beter off calling Brad at emagair tomorrow.

You only need a hlf inch open ended wrench, a 1/8th allen wrench and a small screwdriver to remove the whole thing...Should be easy to pick up locally.

Frank

Ron Lee · #3 03-30-2008, 03:56 PM

Also determine how you did the timing and if you have had any mods performed that corrected failure modes. Apparently the blow method is not the best. I saw someone time it like a normal mag and it was simple.

With a mag problem, you need to be willing to change from both mags to Left and Right to determine if it runs ok on a single mag....and help isolate the offender.

ksauce · #4 03-30-2008, 05:00 PM

I have 1 pmag and 1 mag. The pmag is a 114 series. I did switch off the pmag (I had to to get the CHTs down to reasonable levels) and the problem definitely went away. I'll paste the email I sent to emag below:

I recently installed a 114 series P-Mag in my RV-6A. I have maybe 20 hours on it and all was well until yesterday. I was on a cross country flight from Las Vegas to San Diego at 12,500 feet and noticed a surging of the prop. It would rev up, and then down repeatedly. I also noticed that the CHTs were very high (the hottest was well over 450 degrees). If I reduced RPM (I have a fixed pitch prop) the surging would generally go away; however, if I was operating near full throttle the problem would intermittently come back. The high CHTs remained unless I switched the P-Mag off and flew only on the mag. There was a
considerable drop in power when doing so on the order of 300 RPM or so but I expect that to be normal. I descended to 10,500 and the problems persisted.

For prudence, I landed short of San Diego. When I shut down, I pulled the mixture as normal but the engine kept stumbling. I wound up just switching off the mags to kill the engine. Upon further reflection on the ground, I do remember that when I initially started up the first time that day, the engine pulled through one blade, paused, and then started. I did have to increase the throttle a bit more than usual to get the engine idling smoothly. I pulled the cowl and checked the MAP connections and wiring and all seemed well. I didn't have a chance to check the LED with the engine at TDC as I was running out of daylight.

Jerry Hansen · #5 03-30-2008, 05:32 PM

Kevin, if you need tools, etc. Give me a call at 619-701-7180. I'm at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, just outside of San Diego. I'm at Trio Avionics, and you can have access to any resources we can muster.

Jerry

lostpilot28 · #6 03-30-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksauce

When I shut down, I pulled the mixture as normal but the engine kept stumbling. I wound up just switching off the mags to kill the engine.

I'm confused about this statement. Wouldn't removing the fuel from your engine definitely cause it to stop? Is it possible the surging problem was due to your mixture fluxuating, and a secondary indication of this would be the fact that your mixture didn't kill the engine?

Possibly removing the P-Mag (thereby removing the advance) could've seemed to fix the problem, when it was really the mixture. Of course, this is all just speculation in an attempt to get you to look for other possible sources. Good luck, and keep us all posted.

Ron Lee · #7 03-30-2008, 08:23 PM

But just in case here is their phone number:

(817) 444 5310

lostpilot28 · #8 04-02-2008, 10:37 AM

Hi Kevin,
Any update on this? Just curious to see if you figured out your problem.

Bob Axsom · #9 04-03-2008, 10:30 AM

Just curious. If the problem went away when the P_Mag was off, why make the enroute stop? I have had mags fail over the years and the procedure I follow is to use the good mag in the redundant system to reach my destination.

Bob Axsom

tin man · #10 04-03-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Axsom

Just curious. If the problem went away when the P_Mag was off, why make the enroute stop? I have had mags fail over the years and the procedure I follow is to use the good mag in the redundant system to reach my destination.

Bob Axsom

Don't understand why some people on this site question other peoples decisions when it comes to safety. Here's AWAG. Possibly a defunct mag has shed a part or two into the engine.
Tin Man