As soon as I got this far in your story, I thought 'carb ice!'
************************************************** *********************

I have iced up, at least once, every carb I have flown behind and it
doesn't matter the brand of engine...

My son is learning to fly and I have been a casual instructor for him
in Fat Albert the Apache... In the Warrior he flies, his real
instructor makes him just pull the carb heat on to verify there is a
slight rpm drop and immediately shove it back in.. When he flies with
me I am constantly on his back about checking/using carb heat.. He
finally got exasperated with me one day and said to the effect: If you
are so smart why does Wally instructor make me keep the heat off...
My reply was two questions..
ME: Have you ever heard of an airplane crashing because of the pilot
failed to use carb heat?
HIM: Well, yeah, sure...
ME: Have you ever heard of a plane crashing because the pilot used
the carb heat?
HIM: Uuuh, let me think. pause No.
ME: I rest my case!

BTW Dan, ya did good!

denny