After Annual ...

Finally picking up my airplane tomorrow after a 2-month annual. Just
bought it in April. It is a '61, and despite logbook entries that SAY
annuals have been done every year, it was pretty clear the majority of
stuff under the cowl hadn't been touched in a LONG time. Picking it up
tomorrow. Along with the usual, thorough preflight routine, I plan to do
one or two landings at that airport, come back, shut down and have
another look at everything before leaving to bring the airplane to my
home airport.

Have a few hundred more hours to go before a major engine overhaul, but
just about every part was taken out, scrutinized, cleaned, overhauled,
and replaced. Any tips/advice on that first test flight after that kind
of maintenance, other than the obvious?

Have a few hundred more hours to go before a major engine overhaul, but
just about every part was taken out, scrutinized, cleaned, overhauled,
and replaced. Any tips/advice on that first test flight after that kind
of maintenance, other than the obvious?

What type of airplane?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
What type of airplane?

1961 Morrisey/Shinn (later manufactured as Vargas) 2150-A.

unicate wrote:
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

What type of airplane?

1961 Morrisey/Shinn (later manufactured as Vargas) 2150-A.

http://www.aerofiles.com/morrisy-2150.jpg

wrote in message
...
Any tips/advice on that first test flight after that kind
of maintenance, other than the obvious?

Take the inspector/mechanic on the 1st 'test' flight. (S)he shouldn't
hesitate even at the offer...

"N93332" wrote in message
...
Take the inspector/mechanic on the 1st 'test' flight. (S)he shouldn't
hesitate even at the offer...

While I agree that the IA ought to be willing to ride in the airplane they
just inspected, they may still hesitate to ride in the plane with the owner.
Not speaking of anyone in particular, of course, but there are certainly
pilots out there with whom a sane mechanic would want to avoid flying with
at all costs.

Now, if that mechanic refuses to ride in the airplane even with a pilot of
their choosing, that's definitely a warning sign.

Pete

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"N93332" wrote in message
...
Take the inspector/mechanic on the 1st 'test' flight. (S)he shouldn't
hesitate even at the offer...

Now, if that mechanic refuses to ride in the airplane even with a pilot of
their choosing, that's definitely a warning sign.

The 2 different mechanics that I have taken my plane for annuals are both
pilots. The 1st annual (pre-purchase inspection) mechanic was also a CFI and
gave me the checkout in the plane for insurance purposes after the
inspection. When I take my plane in for annual, I give him permission to
'test fly' it when he's done; he usually does...

-Greg B.

"N93332" wrote in message
...
The 2 different mechanics that I have taken my plane for annuals are both
pilots. The 1st annual (pre-purchase inspection) mechanic was also a CFI
and gave me the checkout in the plane for insurance purposes after the
inspection. When I take my plane in for annual, I give him permission to
'test fly' it when he's done; he usually does...

That's all very wonderful.

Still, there are perfectly valid reasons unrelated to the maintenance for a
mechanic to "hesitate even at the offer".

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"N93332" wrote in message
...
The 2 different mechanics that I have taken my plane for annuals are both
pilots. The 1st annual (pre-purchase inspection) mechanic was also a CFI
and gave me the checkout in the plane for insurance purposes after the
inspection. When I take my plane in for annual, I give him permission to
'test fly' it when he's done; he usually does...

That's all very wonderful.

Still, there are perfectly valid reasons unrelated to the maintenance for
a mechanic to "hesitate even at the offer".


You bet there are!
Reminds me of what the examiner said when I asked "How can you tell I can
fly in 1 hour?"
The one thing he said that stuck "Did you ever get into a car with someone
and wish you were somewhere else by the time they backed out of the
driveway?"
I've made the decision to go, or not to go up with others just seeing how
they taxi, preflight or even hearing them talk.

Peter Duniho wrote:
Now, if that mechanic refuses to ride in the airplane even with a pilot of
their choosing, that's definitely a warning sign.


My second plane crash was immediately after an engine change. There was a lot
of tension in the maintenance hangar due to the IA's bad temper. No doubt as a
direct result, somebody neglected to tighten the oil line from the engine to the
oil cooler (part of the airframe on the Piper Lance). The oil line shook loose
on or shortly after take off and I came down shortly after that.

I ain't too keen on test flying any more.

You might consider doing a series of aborted take offs to give the engine some
full throttle time without actually getting into the air, then pull the cowl off
and take a *good* look around. I wish to hell I had.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE