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-----Original Message-----
From: John Barrett [mailto:2thman@cablespeed.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 7:06 AM
To: 'gerardoconnell@optusnet.com.au'
Subject: RE: water ingestion in rain and engine stoppage
I can attest to the accuracy of this warning. Although my engine is
different (no carburetor) I think the result could happen in either a/c.
In my case the culprit was snow - not ice, but it did the job. I have a
Beech Sierra with a Lycoming IO 360. No carb heat is installed because of
fuel injection, but there is an alternate air source.
First instance a few years ago in winter: Flying about 10K at night just
east of Mullen Pass returning after a ski trip from Montana to Washington
State Olympic Peninsula. I was on an IFR flight plan but in VMC and there
was enough light to see that IMC conditions were in the path (it looked as
if it was a discreet cell but I elected not to ask for deviation around it).
There was heavy snow inside this cell and after about 30 seconds on
instruments the engine went silent - very strange and unsettling. While I
was determining what that puckering feeling was in my seat, the engine
started back up again and didn’t miss another beat. Engine stoppage
probably lasted no more than 5 seconds. Second instance about 3 years ago - same airplane flying from Redmond, OR to
home in WA. I was IFR at about 8K ft south of Mt. Hood cutting across to
Portland with heavy snow. Engine stopped and I had time to ask center to
verify the GPS indication of an airstrip about 4 miles SE and start the turn
before the engine revived. You'd think people would learn, but a couple of months ago I was returning
from Redmond in the afternoon and tried to cut across the dogleg south of Mt
Hood instead of going up to the Columbia Gorge on the east side of the
mountain. It looked like I could do this in VMC but after I got to the SW
of Hood clouds started showing up so I picked up an IFR clearance. The
controller warned of heavy precip ahead, but had no pireps, and I was not
picking up any ice although there was a good bit of snow so I continued.
Indications of problems started when the heater quit working and then I
noticed I couldn't get anymore MAP by manipulating the throttle (at 8K you
can't get much in the best of circumstances, but you should be able to see a
little increase in power and MAP - I normally try to use about 65% power up
to 6 or 7K). Eventually I made the ILS into PDX and waited out the frontal
passage. On the way down the glideslope there was a sudden increase in
engine power at about 3,000 ft and the engine returned to normal responses
to throttle input in addition to the fact that it was running more smoothly.
Early on in this episode, I tried to turn the little alternate air valve
that's under the instrument panel, but I could not get it to turn. I'm convinced that all three of these incidents were caused by accumulation
of snow on the air filter strangling the engine of Oxygen.
Bottom line - trust the POH in this instance.
Regards,
John Barrett
-----Original Message-----
From: gerardoconnell@optusnet.com.au [mailto:gerardoconnell@optusnet.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:23 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: water ingestion in rain and engine stoppage
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.0/1216 - Release Date: 1/9/2008
10:16 AM
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