A Maintenance Oriented Podcast For Airplane Owners, Pilots, and Mechanics

Author: Dean Showalter (Page 11 of 25)

148 – $200 Annual Inspection with Jim Weir

You might be wondering, “How is that possible,” or “What kind of shady operation is that?!” Same here. When I first heard about the $200 annual inspection, I was skeptical… until I actually researched what Jim does and how he does it. That prompted me to call him, and he was gracious enough to take some time to talk with me for the podcast. Thanks Jim!

In talking with Jim, I discovered he does a very thorough, AND very efficient annual inspection with the carefully selected owners he works with. He does this by maximizing the involvement of the airplane owner, and by requiring a very specific process of preparation before he even puts his eyes on the airplane.


Jim Weir has been involved with aviation for many years, and has a wealth of wisdom and experience to share with us.

Although the following picture may have been a few years ago, Jim is still very much full of life and energy… I discovered that the day I spoke with him!

And somehow, I’m guessing Cindi has been a very significant part of Jim’s success in aviation and in life 🙂


In the following picture, Jim ties down his Cessna 182 in advance of a thunderstorm on the way to Oshkosh (Iowa City) in 2002.


And here’s a fun picture: Jim has collected a coffe cup from Oshkosh, every year from 1974 to 2019!


I have to admit, Jim’s approach to annual inspections is not for everyone, but for the owners of small planes who want to be deeply involved in the process, it’s certainly a fascinating option to consider, especially if you’re anywhere near the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Maybe one day I’ll be able to travel clear across the country to visit Jim in person and see his operation… I would LOVE that, for sure!

Thank you Jim, for talking with us in this episode! Keep up the good work!

You can learn more about Jim at rstengineering.com

This is also a good place to learn about HOW Jim does an annual inspection… the key is, it’s an “inspection” and not “fixing discrepancies.”


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147 – Aram Basmadjian and His V-Tail Bonanza

In today’s episode, I’m happy to introduce my good friend, Aram Basmadjian! Aram has a very interesting aviation journey, and it was fun talking with him for this episode.

Aram flew for Skywest Airlines for about 8 years, which was a great foundation for the flying he does today.

Aram enjoys going places with his wife and daughter in his 1962 P35 Bonanza.

He’s also the chief flight instructor at a local college, which allows him to use his skill and passion for teaching pilots effective procedures for instrument flying.

And one of these days, I’m hoping to make a trip to Pennsylvania to have Aram work me over in the flight simulator!

Aram is also a phenomenal organist, and is Vice President of Sales at Allen Organ Company in Macungie, Pennsylvania. According to the website, “Aram Basmadjian is one of the most accomplished organ virtuosos in America.” Wow, well done Aram!

I heard years ago that musicians many times make really good pilots, and I think that’s certainly true in Aram’s case.

So back to the Bonanza, Aram shared some really great tips and thoughts in this episode, and here are a few highlights:

  • Be involved in the maintenance of your airplane!
  • Plane Logix is one good solution for digitizing your maintenance records.
  • When digitizing your maintenance records, transcribe them yourself because you will learn so much valuable information.
  • Good quality maintenance is expensive… be prepared for it.

And finally, Aram shared something really interesting about his specific airplane… for the first 200 hours or so of his airplane’s life, Larry Ball’s name is in the records because he flew the airplane. Larry is well known for his time as the “Bonanza Program Manager,” and for his books, “Those Incomparable Bonanzas,” and “They Call Me Mr. Bonanza.”

Very interesting indeed. Everywhere Aram goes, he seems to attract a lot of interest in his Bonanza. It is indeed a great airplane.

Here are some links where you can learn more about Aram along with his Bonanza and his aviation adventures:

Website for N62BS

Aram’s YouTube channel

You can also contact Aram at his email: aram{at}n62bs{dot}com

Thank you Aram, for sharing part of your story with us in this episode!


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146 – Fixing an Obscure Oil Leak

The part in the yellow circle is an oil scavenge pump that returns oil back to the engine oil sump after it lubricates the turbocharger center bearings. The right side of the assembly is the adapter that fits into the engine accessory case. The left side of the assembly is the hydraulic pump that is used for the landing gear system, the flap system, and the nosegear steering system in this Aerostar 601.

Inside the oil scavenge pump, there are two oil seals, (sometimes called garlock seals,) and two o-rings.

In today’s episode, we discuss this type of pump that reminded me of A&P school from years ago… it’s called a “gerotor pump.” It has a gear within a gear.

Listen to the audio for the details on fixing this oil leak.


We also talk about a Mooney M20K engine in this episode… we lapped the exhaust valve in cylinder #5. We might end up checking the exhaust valve in cylinder #2 as well to make sure it’s not sticking, after the owner had some classic “morning sickness” symptoms as described in Mike Busch’s recent article about sticking exhaust valves. The article is well worth reading.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/july/pilot/savvy-maintance-valves


And while we’re on the subject of exhaust valves, I wanted to remind everyone this resource is available for free… for now. If you want to learn about what to look for when you’re borescoping exhaust valves, this is a great resource. I’m considering moving the guide into the paid section of resources, so grab a copy while you can.

Click here and sign up with your email, and you’ll receive a free copy of the guide, for at least another two weeks.

Click here to get the Exhaust Valve Borescoping Guide.

And if you have a friend, or a few friends who might benefit from this resource, please share this link with them: AirplaneOwnerMaintenance.com/exhaustvalves

Post it on Facebook or Instagram, or wherever you like, so people can take advantage of it while it’s free.


Also in this episode:

  • A big “thank you” to Jeff Claridge who contacted me and did a conference call with me to demonstrate the smoke tester he has to detect leaks in engines. He suggested this would be a great tool for checking exhaust and intake systems for leaks on airplane engines… after seeing it in action, I totally agree! Thanks Jeff!
  • The tester Jeff has is an Autool SDT202. (If you make a purchase with the following link, I’ll get a small percentage… thanks so much!)
  • Thanks also, to Joe Godfrey for talking with us in episode 144, about engine monitoring and data, and how to use SavvyAnalysis.com to analyze that data. Joe used the data from the Cessna 172 Hawk XP that was discussed in episode 142, in the recent “puzzler” in the Savvy Aviation newsletter. Check it out: https://resources.savvyaviation.com/grok-savvy-analysis-puzzler-june-2020/. Thank you Joe!
  • I recorded a conversation yesterday with my friend, Aram Basmadjian, that will appear in a future episode. Be looking for that one. Aram owns and flies a V-tail Bonanza.
  • I also recorded a second conversation yesterday with Jim Weir, a gentleman I only recently became aware of. He has a very unique and strategic way of doing “owner assisted” annual inspecions. That one will also be in a future episode.

Thanks everyone, and have a great week!


The post, “146 – Fixing an Obscure Oil Leak” appeared first on AirplaneOwnerMaintenance.com/146

145 – Seatbelt Airbags and Transient Voltage Suppressors

NOTE: I now have limited spots available on Fridays for one-on-one calls.

Here’s how it works:

Why would you invest in one of these calls?

  • General look-over of your airplane.
  • Troubleshooting an issue with your airplane.
  • Question and answer session.
  • General airplane advice.
  • Other ideas you may have.

And… it’s risk-free. Within 24 hours after the call, if you are not completely satisfied with the results, I’ll gladly refund 100% of your money… and we’ll still be friends 🙂 Your complete satisfaction is a top priority for me.

So schedule a one-hour call with me, Dean Showalter, today.

Just pick your time https://calendly.com/deanshow/60min

And make your payment for $100 PayPal.Me/airplaneownermaint

And we’ll be all set!


Now for today’s topics:

Listen to the episode to hear about a couple challenging issues on a Cirrus SR22 aircraft.

First, the TVS’s, or “Transient Voltage Suppressors.”

There are two different types of these TVS’s. One type is installed in the wiring bundle and is hard to see because it’s mostly covered with heat shrink. The other type is a device about 2 1/2 inches square and about 1/2 inch or so thick. The inline type, along with the corresponding fuses, is pictured in the red circle.

These are used to help guard against lightening strike damage. In this particular airplane, the manual indicates there are 10 TVS’s. Each one has its own fuse, and is to be visually checked at the annual inspection.

Here’s a closer view of a couple of the fuses for this system.

The various TVS’s are located in different areas, including some in the center console area, accessible by removing the panel near the copilot’s left leg.

That’s one topic we discuss in this episode (Transient Voltage Suppressors.)

The second topic is seatbelt airbags.

The AmSafe system includes an EMA (electronic module assembly,) one inflator for the pilot seat and one inflator for the copilot seat, inflatable airbags incorporated into the seatbelts, and the wiring to connect all these components, including a test plug.

The test plug is used at the annual inspection. A test box is connected to the test plug, and the tester gives a pass/fail indication of the various parts of the system.

We talk about this system in today’s episode as well.


Remember, you can schedule a one-on-one call with me on a Friday by picking a time on my calendar: https://calendly.com/deanshow/60min and making a payment for $100 here: PayPal.Me/airplaneownermaint

After you’ve scheduled a time and paid for the one-hour spot, we’ll

Thanks, and have a great week!


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144 – Joe Godfrey, Engine Data, and Savvy Analysis

Joe Godfrey is an expert when it comes to analyzing engine data from aircraft engine monitoring systems.

Joe is the Director of Operations at SavvyAnalysis, as well as a Columnist and Editor for SavvyAviation News.

Not only does Joe analyze airplane engine data, but he also owns and flies his own airplane, a Bellanca Viking.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the “Puzzler” in the Savvy Aviation Newsletter, where some real-world airplane engine data is discussed in a way to help us understand how to “read” the data. These puzzlers are from actual problems encountered in real airplanes.

Listen to today’s episode to hear Joe’s thoughts on the value of engine monitors in airplanes, and how to interpret the data that’s collected.

Savvy Analysis is by far the BEST platform I’ve ever seen for analyzing engine data. You can open an account for free, and upload your data, and look at all the graphs and features for free. If you need help interpreting what you see, you can pay a small fee to have Joe and the other experts at Savvy analyze your data for you and help you understand what it means.

Click here to learn more about SavvyAnalysis.com

While you’re there, be sure to check out the new technology being launched by Savvy to help detect failing exhaust valves before they become an in-flight issue. It’s called FEVA, which stands for Failing Exhaust Valve Analytics.


Joe Godfrey is also a very interesting guy outside of aviation… he plays multiple types of guitars, and he’s had some pretty cool experiences in the music industry. Check it out at his personal website: JoeGodfrey.com


Finally, listen to today’s episode to find out why I’m now kicking myself for not collecting the engine data out of an airplane that had the engine come apart recently. Thankfully, the pilot was flying alone and landed safely. It would have been a great learning opportunity if I could have seen the data on a computer screen after the #2 connecting rod punched a hole through the crankcase and broke the left magneto right off the engine!

Next time I’ll be more proactive to collect the data… it would have been so easy.

The instructions for doing this, and so much more, are at SavvyAnalysis.com


One last fun thing: I also discovered Joe knows a lot about jingles and ring tones… I mentioned to him that I’d been wanting to have a ring tone set up on my iPhone so that “Brown Eyed Girl” would play when my wife Maria calls me (she actually is my brown eyed girl!). The very next day, he sent me a custom ringtone… thanks Joe!

You can contact Joe through Savvy Aviation or through his website JoeGodfrey.com


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143 – Oh No! A Lycoming Exhaust Stud Pulled Out!


Note: The “Safety Wire Like A Pro!” video training course is available for one more day at 20% off (use code “canard” for discount coupon.) Read about the training here:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring


Three stories for today:

Story #1:

A Lycoming exhaust stud pulled out.

It was disappointing, but turned out to be an inspiring learning experience.

A helicoil had previously been installed, which pulled out, and left a hole too big to install another helicoil (thread repair). Listen and find out how we solved the problem with a “Keensert” thread repair:

It worked fantastically!


Story #2:

Bad spark Plug.

We also talked in this episode about a bad spark plug and how we determined which one was bad, using the engine monitor system in a Cirrus SR22.

The EGT for cylinder #2 was higher than all the others because only one spark plug was firing in that cylinder which caused the exhaust gases to be hotter when they crossed the EGT probe.

It turned out the spark plug ceramic was cracked and the plug was not working at all: (I verified it using the spark plug tester.) There’s actually another crack on the other side of the ceramic as well.

With some basic training, an engine monitor can be an excellent troubleshooting tool.


Story #3:

Rough engine in an Ercoupe.

After some troubleshooting, it was discovered that cylinder #2 had no compression due to a stuck exhaust valve.


Other resources mentioned in this episode:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring

(Use code “canard” for 20% off on the safety wiring training course until midnight May 31, 2020.)


PilotWorkshop.com

(Be sure to sign up for the free pilot “Tip of the week.”)


142 – Fixing a Stranded Cessna 172XP and Flying it Home

What an adventure!

This airplane got stranded at Wilmington, Delaware due to failure of the #2 cylinder on the Lycoming IO-360 engine.

The local maintenance shop discovered the exhaust valve rocker shaft stud had broken… here’s what it looked like:

Obviously, that cylinder was rendered useless… and it caused a significant power loss. Thankfully, the flight instructor and student were able to make an uneventful landing at KILG.

Weeks later, Kenneth and I set out on an adventure to fix the airplane and get it back home.

We left early one morning with a new cylinder assembly and all the parts and tools we anticipated needing for the repair.

It went as well as could be expected… here’s Kenneth at work in the shop, where we were surrounded by amazing airplanes… a TBM, a Cirrus Vision Jet, and some other bigger jets. The only other piston airplane in this shop was a Piper Warrior.

I wasn’t sure how it would go having two of us working on the same cylinder change, but it went very well.

We took a short lunch break to grab some burgers at Wendy’s, and by mid afternoon, the installation was complete.

We did a short ground run, and then it was time for a brief local flight to make sure things were good for the return to Shenandoah Valley. I’d never done a maintenance test flight at a towered airport, so that was a little different, but actually went very well. The controller was excellent to work with and very helpful, which was much appreciated.

After the short flight, we checked the engine again and everything looked good. Now it was time for the flight home.

Kenneth flew the Mooney we had traveled in that morning, and I flew the Cessna 172XP. Most things went as planned, except for the out of the ordinary situation right before takeoff.

A single engine Cessna landed and told the controller their oil door popped off, and it was on the runway. So we had to wait for a maintenance truck to come out and retrieve the oil door off the runway before we could take off. I didn’t see that one coming!

The trip home went very well… I flew VFR, so I was thankful I had noticed the night before that I could fly slightly around the North side of the BWI, IAD, and Washington, DC area, and stay clear of those areas.

This airplane has a JPI engine monitor, and I later downloaded the data and saw exactly where the cylinder failure had occurred. Take a look:

I just wish the sample rate had been set to 1 second, instead of 6 seconds, but it’s better than nothing for sure. The upper graph is the EGT, and the yellow line is cylinder #2, the one that failed. What I haven’t fully figured out yet, is why the purple (#4) dropped off so dramatically right after that. I’m thinking that happened since it was right next to #2, but I need to ask an engine data expert about that. Maybe I’ll check with Joe Godfrey with Savvy Analysis.

(The bottom graph is engine RPM.) There’s so much more information in the profile that is not shown here.

One more thing… I was very thankful that when I got an error message on the way home, it was for cylinder #1 and not #2, the one we had just fixed. Here’s a shot of the engine monitor on the trip home:

It later turned out that one of the probe wires for #2 was loose… an easy fix.

All in all, it was a great adventure, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to help rescue a stranded airplane. It’s a wonderful thing to fly an airplane you’ve returned to airworthy condition!

Here’s a screen shot of my trip home… a little squiggly, but I figure it’s not bad for the given circumstances!



141 – Aviate, Navigate, Communicate, is Exactly Backwards!

Scroll down for pictures of some things included in today’s episode.


Sitting in my truck the other day, I had a revelation. Here it is:

When you are having maintenance done on your airplane, Aviate, Navigate, Communicate, is exactly backwards.

Instead, it’s important to “Communicate, then Navigate, and finally Aviate.”

First, communicate.

TALK WITH your A&P or shop about the work you need done. Establish good communication right from the start, and maintain that communication all the way through the process. This way, you can hopefully avoid the surprises that could happen.

Second, navigate.

WORK WITH your A&P or shop to navigate through the discrepancies on your airplane, and develop a plan of action you both agree on.

Third, and finally, aviate.

FLY WITH your A&P!

Well… maybe not always, depending on the situation. BUT, in my opinion, your A&P should trust their work enough to be willing to go flying with you after working on your plane.

Here’s the point:

When something unexpected happens in flight, it’s absolutely important to “Aviate, then Navigate, then Communicate.”

But for maintenance, it’s just the opposite.

For maintenance, it’s vitally important to “Communicate, then Navigate, then Aviate.”

Communicate what you need done, and stay in touch through the process.

Navigate a clear plan of action WITH your A&P.

And when the work is done, you’re ready to AVIATE!


Here’s the Piper Cherokee that needed cowling latch repair: (Super nice-looking airplane.)

And here’s the Aerostar fuel quantity gauge that was discussed in this episode: (This was the successful reading after cleaning the wiring connection inside the right wing fuel tank.)


Now back to my little “rabbit trail” I mentioned early in today’s episode:

I did in fact, fill out the contact information on Matt Guthmiller’s website, to see if he would be willing to be a guest on the podcast sometime… we’ll see what he says. (At 19, he became the youngest person to fly around the world solo in an airplane!)

I can’t find the video I watched last night, but Matt has a ton of great videos on YouTube… and if you’re interested, by all means check out his website:

MattGuthmiller.com

I also found a good video by Bold Method, that explains what a contact approach is. I was curious after hearing Matt Guthmiller talk about it.


Have a great week friends!

The post “141 – Aviate, Navigate, Communicate, is Exactly Backwards!” appeared first on Dean Showalter’s website, AirplaneOwnerMaintenance.com

140 – I Traveled to Wyoming and Canada this Week and Learned About Four Different Airplanes!

Before we get into the places I “traveled” through FaceTime calls, I wanted to share something you might be interested in… my friends, John and Leslie Caubble (FlyMauiHI.com) now have a “Fly Maui” YouTube channel, and I recently watched their new video where they talked about ForeFlight basics… It’s called ForeFlight 101. It’s really good information, and here’s a link for that video:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_wXmz7UGuFcK4paSe0gRg


I “traveled” to 3 different locations this week, not physically, but through FaceTime video calls, where I talked with 3 airplane owners and “walked around” their airplanes with them. It was a blast! Listen to today’s episode to hear about those calls.

Facetime call #1: Dallas Mount in Wheatland, Wyoming

Dallas owns and flies a 1952 C35 Bonanza. He bought the airplane and brought it back to life, after some years of inactivity. His story is inspiring, and I had a great time talking with him and his buddy Arnie. Listen to today’s episode to hear more about the history of Dallas’ airplane and the things he’s doing to get it in excellent operating condition.

FaceTime call #2: Curtis Penner in Canada

Curtis Penner was the first airplane owner I talked with this week. He’s up in Canada, just across the border from North Dakota. He’s got two airplanes, an RV-10 and a Bearhawk Patrol. The RV-10 is a tricycle gear traveling machine, that Curtis describes as “Like a Cirrus, but affordable,” and the Bearhawk Patrol is a two-place taildragger type aircraft.

Here’s the RV-10:

And here’s the Bearhawk Patrol:

Now THAT is aviation adventure!

Also, later on, after our call, Curtis sent me an email with some excellent widsom and advice about succeeding as a pilot and airplane owner… I shared that portion of his email in the audio for today’s episode.


Facetime call #3: Warwick Patterson in British Columbia

Folding bikes and a Cessna 172

Warwick owns and flies an older well-kept Cessna 172 and is a very fascinating individual. One of his websites is FormulaPhoto.com (very interesting indeed.)

I also discovered Warwick has a podcast and YouTube channel: “Flying BC.” You can find information about the podcast at FlyingBC.com

Flying BC

I highly recommend starting with episode 3, “James Marasa: Out of the clouds, into the trees.” This is an incredible survival story that could have been a disaster… well worth listening to.


So those are the three FaceTime calls I wanted to share in this episode.

I also have two other items I talked about as well: An early morning flight with my Friend Matt in a Cessna 182, and a conversation with April Zook of the AD Toolbox and AirworthinessDirectives.com

First, the flight with Matt: (It was one of those glassy smooth mornings:)

And here’s the view approaching back into SHD after our trip to Brookneal, Campbell County Airport:


And the final thing I wanted to share in this episode, is about April and Reuben Zook, with AirworthinessDirectives.com and The AD Toolbox. They are great people and I was reminded of that again when April asked me to give some feedback about a new project they’re working on… so I thought I’d mention them again here and encourage you to check out their resources.

April and Reuben have the best AD research and record keeping system in the industry… and they are super nice people who are available whenever you have a question.

Have a great week friends!

139 – My Alternator Came Apart… Should I Also Replace the Voltage Regulator?

NOTICE: UNTIL THE END OF MAY 2020, USE CODE “CANARD” FOR A 20% DISCOUNT ON MY VIDEO COURSE “SAFETY WIRE LIKE A PRO!” (Listen to the podcast to hear the story behind the word “canard” and why I chose that for the code.)

Click the following link to learn about the course:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring


I received an email recently asking a question about an alternator that came apart due to a failed bearing… listen to today’s podcast episode for some thoughts on that.

Also, many older airplanes don’t have a digital voltage indicator on the instrument panel, so here’s a fantastic solution for plugging in to the cigarette lighter: (and the great thing is, it’s under $20!)

https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/flight-gear-dual-usb-charger.html


Here are some other items of interest from this past week: (All of these situations are described in today’s episode.)

STRANGE VACUUM GAUGE INDICATIONS IN A MOONEY – CHECK OUT THE DETERIORATED HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSING THIS:


EXHAUST SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTING ON AN AEROSTAR:


A SLICK MAGNETO THAT MADE IT TO ABOUT 1700 HOURS! (This one has gone to Kevin Herrington at Aircraft Ignition Services, LLC for repair.)


A LOOSE BOLT IN A TURBOCHARGER SUPPORT BRACE: (NOTICE THE RUSTY COLOR IN THE SEAM, WHICH INDICATES CHAFING. ALSO NOTICE THE WEAR MARK UNDER THE WASHER.)

For more information about noticing colors on an engine, check out podcast episode 036 – Tell-Tale Colors in an airplane’s engine compartment.


A FUEL QUANTITY COMPUTER IN AN AEROSTAR:

(We sent this component to Tech-Aire in Wichita, KS because the right fuel gauge was not indicating properly, and “Bill” advised the problem is usually in this box… so I’m hopeful this will fix it.)


PLEASE SEND ME A VOICE MESSAGE OR AN EMAIL:

Which one of these video training courses would you be most eager to learn from:

  1. Servicing landing gear shock struts.
  2. Basic electrical system operation and troubleshooting.
  3. Exhaust valve borescoping and interpretation.
  4. Another idea you have! (Let me know.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so click that tab over on the right side of the page and record a voice message, or, send me an email: dean@airplaneownermaintenance.com


Don’t forget, you can get my safety wiring video tutorial course for 20% off through the end of May 2020… click this link for more info:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring

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