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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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I just finished my checkride for my IFR license. I passed (Yippee) but I am
too tired to celebrate. This 10 day program, coupled with the day job and
airplane "maintenance" kicked my ass.
I so badly wanted 10 days without the hassle of work and no airplane
problems. I got neither - work has been crazy and the plane has had its
share of "quirks". Namely:
1. First flight with the instructor the gear didn't retract (this is the
2nd time that has happened). I landed, cracked a low pressure line, open
the dump valve, crossed my fingers, and took off again. Worked fine after
that.
2. Starter died. I didn't diagnose the problem properly and changed
batteries twice and looked for a bad ground. Turned out to be the starter,
but it took 3 days of very difficult starts and agonizing time to figure
that out.
3. AOA indicator barks everytime I push the #2 com transmit. Not a big
problem in the past, as VFR the flip flop on #1 was good enough. IFR is a
bit different - musical frequencies. This got to be annoying, so I have
pulled the breaker.
4. Fuel flow - I have an idiot light to let me know if one of my fuel
transfer pumps ceases to push a given volume of fuel. It now stays on any
time the transfer pumps are on. Annoying, but both pumps seem to be
working.
5. This morning, on final into the airport where I was scheduled to take my
check ride (my instructor was with me), I joined the glideslope and dropped
the gear. Well, I dropped the gear selector, but the gear stayed put.
Tried it a few more times, no luck. Great - one more problem I don't need,
especially now. I calmly reached over and pulled the breaker and opened the
dump valve. The gear dropped and I got green on the mains. No green on the
nose. I pulled the nose up a bit, pulled the power for a split second, and
got three green. Best of all, I stayed on the glideslope and my instructor
didn't even know what was going on. Fortunately the problem didn't repeat
itself on the check ride. I asked the instructor if he did something to
cause that just to test me and he swears he didn't.
6. And this is the worst and most expensive problem. Since day one I have
had a problem with CHT on the #2 cylinder. The problem is gettting worse.
I had it under control for awhile, but it is creeping. I am also blowing a
significant amount of oil through the #2 intake valve seal (or so I have
been told by two independent mechanics). Could that contribute to a heat
problem? Who knows, but I have a feeling I am about to incur another big
expense.
Matt
PS - the Sandel HSI rules - I don't think I could have done this IFR program
without it (I am a low time pilot, with about 30 hours in the Lancair).
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LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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