What was the last stupid thing you did?

See.It happens.Bet it will not twice.
wrote in message
...
Anyone else have a close call they
learned a valuable lesson from.You know; the one you don't tell you flying
buddies about.

Well...we're all buddies here...so I shouldn't tell you, right?
OK, but I will...

Last Saturday, I took my wife up from BKL, Cleveland (OH) Burke
Lakefront in a Diamond DA40-180. That was a comedy of errors.
Beech had set up an exhibition of their new toys, right around the
DA40, So: we had to push the DA40 back, then it wouldnt push straight,
so we had to find a towbar. Then we needed oil, which dripped all over
the engine compartment and exhaust, and I spent 15 minutes diligently
cleaning up.

Did I mention it was 90+ F? In June? In Cleveland on the lakeshore?

Realizing this, I took things a bit slower, trying to ensure I
wouldn't miss anything rushing thru the preflight.

Finally got the preflight done and got in...

Start/taxi/takeoff OK...500', throttle full, prop back to 2400 (that's
what it calls for!) So I start to bring the the prop back...and
back...and back...and the RPM finally starts down...and the engine
spits once... oops wrong control, let's try the other one that's
BLUE. I was even pushing on the friction lock on that red control
and not realizing. my thumb rests right on it.

Ya know... 500' over Lake Erie is not a good place to kill the
engine. Being a motorhead, and having adjust many carbs; at the first
spit, I realized what it was and recovered immediately. My wife never
even noticed the miss. rest of flight uneventful...

Won't do that again!
Feel AND verify

...shame I didnt have time to look at the new King Air and Beechjet on
display...not that I'll ever afford either one...

--Don
Don Byrer
Electronics Technician/Friendly but Sarcastic Pilot
FAA Airways Facilites/Tech Ops, RADAR/Data/Comm @ CLE
Amateur Radio KJ5KB
Instrument Pilot Commercial Student
PP-ASEL 30 Jan 2005 "-IA" 25 Mar 2005