The Most Expensive Ironing Boards in the World...

You might want to spring for a dynamic balance. Smooths things out
which helps on wear and tear and makes the plane nicer to ride in as
well....

On 2006-10-06, Jay Honeck wrote:
"Is all that oil normal?"

Interestingly, we were only 1/2 quart down on the dipstick.

A little oil, when smeared over the side of the aircraft, goes a long
way. I once did a stupid pilot trick (was interrupted during my preflight and
forgot to replace the oil filler cap/dipstick on the C140!) and on
landing a short time later discovered what looked like a gallon of oil
coating the side and belly of the aircraft. However, not much had
actually been blown out the engine. Fortunately, the cap/dipstick was
still where this idiot had left it - on top of the engine!

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

Dylan Smith wrote in
:

Fortunately, the
cap/dipstick was still where this idiot had left it - on top of the
engine!

Fortunately, I have not done this, but this is one of my greatest
fears..... My way of reducing this is to never completely remove the
dipstick, just enough to see the level and put it right back on. The dip
stick on my Sundowner is not a screw on type, but the type you push it to
"click it" in place and put the pull handle in a flat position.

Whenever possible, I try to top off the oil after a flight, so it gives me
a second oppurtunity (subsequent pre-flight) to catch a mistake should I do
something like you describe above.

You must have a very well balanced prop for the dip stick not to shift in
flight sitting on top of your engine :-)

Allen

Dylan Smith wrote:

A little oil, when smeared over the side of the aircraft, goes a long
way. I once did a stupid pilot trick (was interrupted during my preflight and
forgot to replace the oil filler cap/dipstick on the C140!) and on
landing a short time later discovered what looked like a gallon of oil
coating the side and belly of the aircraft. However, not much had
actually been blown out the engine. Fortunately, the cap/dipstick was
still where this idiot had left it - on top of the engine!


I did this on a Continetal powered 172. The dipstick was separate
from the oil filler neck (much bigger opening). I lost 2 quarts on a
3 hr. flight and the plane was covered from nose to tail and dripping
all over my tiedown. Like you, I opened the cowl and found the cap
right where I'd left it. Sitting on top of the battery box. It was
pretty embarrasing, as my IA had come out to see what happened after
seeing me taxi past.

A few years later (same plane) I landed in the middle of nowhere in
Nevada and the FBO lady came out and was excitedly pointing at my
plane. When I got out and saw oil all down the side, I couldn't
believe I'd done it again. As it turned out, I didn't. This time, the
entire oil filler neck had departed the engine somewhere over Idaho or
Nevada. It was press-fit into the engine and had come loose over the
decades. This time I lost 2 1/2 quarts and had to wait 3 days for the
part.

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

Jay Honeck wrote:
Do you write for Reader's Digest? Because I have read worse titles and worse
stories in that mag. I wd think they would be grateful to publish -
brilliant! Thanks


Thanks for the compliment. I haven't measured -- is my story about the
length of time it takes for a "morning constitutional"? (That *is*
the standard story length for Reader's Digest, BTW...)

We have a bookcase in the aforementioned room. I don't have any books
in it. I think it's a guy thing (especially if She is WAITING for the
room)!

That's also why the Digest is the size it is. It's designed to fit
perfectly on the toilet tank lid.

(And I'm a life-long subscriber, BTW... ;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Thanks for the compliment. I haven't measured -- is my story about the
length of time it takes for a "morning constitutional"? (That *is*
the standard story length for Reader's Digest, BTW...)

We have a bookcase in the aforementioned room. I don't have any books
in it. I think it's a guy thing (especially if She is WAITING for the
room)!

That's why we have three full bathroom/tubs/showers in a home occupied
by just four people.

(And each one has a good selection of reading material...)

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"