First fairly long XC since ownership.

I don't have any proof that they did it but with nothing missing (Garmin 196
sitting right there), it kind of makes me wonder. Beware of KTTA in Sanford
NC. Either they break your stuff, or they don't notice when others do.

Hi Wayne

My plane ws broken ito earlier this year - my Garmin 196 was sitting right
there and all they took was the aircraft documents.
They also broke into 6 other aircraft on the field- one had items taken
and five didn't.
It seems to me that you are jumping to some pretty big conclusions in
assuming that the line guy did it.
As we are dealing purely with speculation, my speculation is that he
didn't. Also, I hope for your benefit that he isn't reading this thread.

--
Tony Roberts )
PP-ASEL
VFR-OTT - Night
Cessna 172H

Pretty far fetched scenario but a real ****er. Glad you didn't lose the
Garmin.

Brakes on perhaps and fuel truck out of service...

FWIW, For almost 7 years, I've left my Maule all over NC at various
airports. I've always left it unlocked with only a pair of DCs laying out
of sight in the back. Lots of overnights and weekends. Never had an
incident of any kind. I worry but that worry has been unfounded so far.

Try Siler City 5W8 for fuel. About 15 miles from TTA. Always some of the
cheapest around.

TTA is another gorgeous GA NC airport that has recently been expanded or in
this case, built new to replace its former self. Ditto for KTDF, KEXX and
many other long, clean surfaced county airports. We're not in Jersey
anymore!

"Wayne" wrote in message ...
Finally got to take a fairly long trip in my 175B this weekend. went
from HGR (Hagerstown, Md) to TTA (Sanford, Nc) Sure was better than driving,
uaually takes around 6-1/2 hours to drive (no accidents holding us up),
three pee stops (kids), 2 stop at McDonalds etc... Instead is was 2 hours,
24 minutes down, 2 hours 15 minutes back. Word of warning though for NC,
fuel prices don't include tax. Fuel was $2.80 per gallon, plus 7% tax. 26.3
gallons costed me 78.79!

I got there just at dark on Friday night, locked her up and left, the
line guy said he would have them fuel it up the next day. Came back Saturday
afternoon, around 4 and found my door open. Lock broken, yet nothing
missing. My thinking is that they may have feared I would come in at night
and leave without paying for the fuel so they broke the lock to get the name
from inside. ****ed me off very badly but what good would it do to bitch?
None was my thinking.

What could I have done to avoid this? I'd rather they locked my plane to
the tiedown than break my lock. I would have left them a credit card or paid
right away, the guy was leaving for the night and didn't feel like getting
the truck out or I would have got the fuel and paid for it right away. I
don't have any proof that they did it but with nothing missing (Garmin 196
sitting right there), it kind of makes me wonder. Beware of KTTA in Sanford
NC. Either they break your stuff, or they don't notice when others do.

I guarantee the FBO didn't break into your plane. No FBO would (I
believe it is a federal offense to tamper with an aircraft). Further,
it is standard practice to fuel and pay the next day or whenever you
return.

One of 3 things happened:
1. A thief broke into your plane.
2. The lock/latch mechanism broke and the wind opened the door
3. The door was never latched and the wind opened the door.

Regarding the fuel prices. $2.80 isn't bad, at least not in the
midwest. Check out http://www.airnav.com for listing of fuel prices.

-Nathan

Nathan Young wrote:
: Regarding the fuel prices. $2.80 isn't bad, at least not in the
: midwest. Check out http://www.airnav.com for listing of fuel prices.


Probably true, but I've gotten spoiled running autogas. Airnav is
certainly a great way to fly somewhere cheap, as there's almost always a
place to land enroute that's relatively inexpensive. I stopped in Knox,
IN (KOXI) on my way to and from Milwaukee from Virginia this last weekend
and filled up at $1.89/gal for 100LL. Can't argue with that!

-Cory

--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

You didn't describe how the lock was broken, so I can't comment on that.
However, as a 25+ year Cessna owner I can testify to the fact that the
doors are not very secure when closed in the usual manner. I have on a
number of occasions gone to the airport, found the door open, and nothing
missing. When the wind blows the fuselage twists a little, and the doors,
if not solidly latched, will pop open.

There are two things you can do about this. First, close the doors securely.
In a Cessna you can leve the handle pointing downwards - and the outside
release will work. Or you can turn it to the fully locked position (handle
pointing towards the rear) as you do before taking off. This causes the
latch to more deeply engage the hole in the striker plate. Watch what
happens when you operate the handle with the door open to see what I mean.
How to fully lock both doors? Lock the passenger side when you are in the
plane. Then get out and close the pilot's door. Open the baggage door and
stick your head and shoulders inside. Fold the rear seatback forward, then
reach for the pilot's door handle and rotate it to the rear position.
Extricate yourself from the plane, and lock the baggage door.

For added security. install an eyebolt in the lower rear corner of each door
(inside, of course). Then run a suitable bungee cord between the eyebolts
when you are closing up the plane.

I hope this helps - it works for me.

(Tony Roberts) wrote in message ...

My plane ws broken ito earlier this year - my Garmin 196 was sitting right
there and all they took was the aircraft documents.
They also broke into 6 other aircraft on the field- one had items taken
and five didn't.

You'd better check your avionics serial numbers too. Most criminals
don't bother breaking into planes for no reason. The avionics switch
has been getting more prevalent with the advent of online sales of
used equipment. It's made it easier to check for serial numbers of
stolen equipment.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

("David Johnson" wrote)
snip
For added security. install an eyebolt in the lower rear corner of each
door
(inside, of course). Then run a suitable bungee cord between the eyebolts
when you are closing up the plane.

I hope this helps - it works for me.

Sound like the board behind the seat rail "repair." Simple but effective.

--
Montblack

wrote in message
...
Nathan Young wrote:
: Regarding the fuel prices. $2.80 isn't bad, at least not in the
: midwest. Check out http://www.airnav.com for listing of fuel prices.


Probably true, but I've gotten spoiled running autogas. Airnav is
certainly a great way to fly somewhere cheap, as there's almost always a
place to land enroute that's relatively inexpensive. I stopped in Knox,
IN (KOXI) on my way to and from Milwaukee from Virginia this last weekend
and filled up at $1.89/gal for 100LL. Can't argue with that!


You guys are so lucky. It costs the equivalent of $6.15 per gallon for fuel
in England and the cheapest landing fee I have paid on top of that was $12
and they are often much higher with facilities that you would consider as
condemned.

Dave

"Dave" writes:

You guys are so lucky. It costs the equivalent of $6.15 per gallon
for fuel in England and the cheapest landing fee I have paid on top
of that was $12 and they are often much higher with facilities that
you would consider as condemned.

Is that USD 6.50 per U.S. gallon or USD 6.50 per Imperial gallon?


All the best,


David

Dave wrote:

You guys are so lucky.

We certainly are in that regard. AOPA periodically informs us of the situation
you guys face there and in Europe and works very hard to keep it from happening
here.

George Patterson
If you're not part of the solution, you can make a lot of money prolonging
the problem.