Ed_Wischmeyer
Well Known Member
1. Yesterday was the first flight after a month-long condition inspection. It was great to be in the RV-9A again, to refresh the memory on the avioncis and instrument procedures, etc. The interior had been cleaned, I was glad to be in the air.
This morning was to be an Instrument Proficiency Check in preparation for a ten day trip one state shy of coast to coast, and of course, I did a preflight. Hey, everything was fine yesterday, but let's do the preflight, just because.
Hmm, the right wheel pant is almost touching the hangar floor. Low rider? Nope, just one very flat tire, probably a leaking inner tube. Fortunately the plane wasn't resting on the wheel pant. And if the tire went down that much overnight, probably don't want to fly the plane today.
The tube gets replaced tomorrow.
2. With surgery scheduled for the next day, I wanted to get one more flight in. I knew the Cessna was in great shape, and I just wanted to get in the air. So, yeah, I took out the control lock and did the preflight. When I raised the right elevator by hand, the left elevator stayed down. What the... ??? Then I noticed that the skin on the stabilizer was torn where the elevator had deflected way, way up. Turns out that winds were gusting to 74 knots right up the rear of the Cessna, and rivets had sheared where the elevators connected to the actuator in the tail cone. There was also rudder and aileron damage when I looked closely...
3. Was out waterskiing and saw a fog bank rolling in. Went in, packed in a hurry, got to the Cessna 210 and the oil dipstick was completely dry. What? No oil on the belly, so...?? Turns out that there's a valve somewhere in the engine that had stuck and the oil was hiding in different parts of the engine. The mechanic said that the airplane was safe to fly, but by then the fog bank was all over the airport. And laughing at me.
4. Was taking a real cutie for a flight in a Great Lakes biplane. Because it's cold at altitude, she was dressed warmly in the 90° weather as I helped her with parachute, seat belt and harness, etc. Then I put on my parka, climbed into the back, struggled into my chute and harness. Controls free? Check. Brakes? CLUNK! Brake pedal went straight to the floor on the right side. She did believe me, but it would have been much more fun to go upside down.
So what have been your biggest pre-flight surprises?
This morning was to be an Instrument Proficiency Check in preparation for a ten day trip one state shy of coast to coast, and of course, I did a preflight. Hey, everything was fine yesterday, but let's do the preflight, just because.
Hmm, the right wheel pant is almost touching the hangar floor. Low rider? Nope, just one very flat tire, probably a leaking inner tube. Fortunately the plane wasn't resting on the wheel pant. And if the tire went down that much overnight, probably don't want to fly the plane today.
The tube gets replaced tomorrow.
2. With surgery scheduled for the next day, I wanted to get one more flight in. I knew the Cessna was in great shape, and I just wanted to get in the air. So, yeah, I took out the control lock and did the preflight. When I raised the right elevator by hand, the left elevator stayed down. What the... ??? Then I noticed that the skin on the stabilizer was torn where the elevator had deflected way, way up. Turns out that winds were gusting to 74 knots right up the rear of the Cessna, and rivets had sheared where the elevators connected to the actuator in the tail cone. There was also rudder and aileron damage when I looked closely...
3. Was out waterskiing and saw a fog bank rolling in. Went in, packed in a hurry, got to the Cessna 210 and the oil dipstick was completely dry. What? No oil on the belly, so...?? Turns out that there's a valve somewhere in the engine that had stuck and the oil was hiding in different parts of the engine. The mechanic said that the airplane was safe to fly, but by then the fog bank was all over the airport. And laughing at me.
4. Was taking a real cutie for a flight in a Great Lakes biplane. Because it's cold at altitude, she was dressed warmly in the 90° weather as I helped her with parachute, seat belt and harness, etc. Then I put on my parka, climbed into the back, struggled into my chute and harness. Controls free? Check. Brakes? CLUNK! Brake pedal went straight to the floor on the right side. She did believe me, but it would have been much more fun to go upside down.
So what have been your biggest pre-flight surprises?