tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post7132213412973359715..comments2024-03-13T09:47:40.487+00:00Comments on Cockpit Conversation: FragileAviatrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-81551804274163699152012-11-13T04:59:35.348+00:002012-11-13T04:59:35.348+00:00I can't say that I ever uncovered the reason f...I can't say that I ever uncovered the reason for this - but - one day I did discover that when shutting down both engines on a GA7 by moving the mixture controls to idle/cut-off, if the engines were immediately cranked again - with the mixture still at ICO - the engines would fire - spin through a few hundred revolutions - and then die again. It certainly make me a lot more aware of mag checks.Colin Southernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214987621577513553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-4959268288581080292012-08-25T22:54:38.797+00:002012-08-25T22:54:38.797+00:00It's always a good idea to keep checking the w...It's always a good idea to keep checking the whys and wherefors of SOPs. Having installed an auto conversion engine in my aircraft, I had to adapt procedures to this new environment - i.e. Electric fuel pumps, electronic ignition... It also forces one to think through emergency procedures... I.e. will shutting off the Master sw. also shut down the engine? Oops...<br /><br />Because the engine shuts OFF with ignition switches, and it starts so easily with the electronic ignition, I do pull the ignition breakers when parking the plane.<br /><br />(so far I have failed to prove I am not a robot two times.. Sigh! Shall I go for three? Is it just iPad's small screen that makes this so hard? I guess I won't bother commenting any more... Too haaaaard)Grantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-50511884388245216392012-08-25T01:44:15.842+00:002012-08-25T01:44:15.842+00:00My flight school was at the very top of straight-l...My flight school was at the very top of straight-laced safety, and I think they would have a heart attack at the thought of shutting an engine down with the mags instead of fuel. (even if it did come right back on. Probably would get grounded for pulling a stunt like that)<br /><br />From the maintenance side of things, I think its better to find a broken P lead on a pre-inspection run than a post inspection run (though its not a terribly difficult fix, its just one more thing to do when you think you are done). Regardless, I check it any time I run an engine.Echojuliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14176325221080989545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-32016816485667826242012-08-24T20:23:39.068+00:002012-08-24T20:23:39.068+00:00A live mag doesn't necessarily create a hazard...A live mag doesn't necessarily create a hazard for a full on engine start, but more likely it is possible for residual fuel fumes to create the conditions where its possible for the engine to "kick" through a combustion cycle if the engine stops at just the right spot in the stroke and the propeller is accidentally turned.<br /><br />Also I imagine this is most likely to happen on smaller engines (O-200, O-320s, etc) that are equipped with impulse couplings (a mechanical device that allows the spark plugs to generate sufficient spark at low RPM to assist in starting the engine).Chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13732820595579405728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-18960380534338587652012-08-24T17:24:30.322+00:002012-08-24T17:24:30.322+00:00Sorry to hear about your co-worker, and thanks for...Sorry to hear about your co-worker, and thanks for noting that it wasn't aviation-related. Sad nonetheless.<br /><br />I too was taught the p-lead check by my instructor back in the late '90s. Seems to make sense given the lethality of the prop.<br /><br />Regards,<br />MartyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-59505793358327312202012-08-24T14:32:59.679+00:002012-08-24T14:32:59.679+00:00Happened at the airport I used to be based at:
NT...Happened at the airport I used to be based at:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001213X35171&key=1" rel="nofollow">NTSB</a>Tina Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14319410094727258126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-87827234636223524152012-08-24T13:32:36.737+00:002012-08-24T13:32:36.737+00:00I do that once in a while, and I have seen it disc...I do that once in a while, and I have seen it discussed on line on in ground training. But you're right, it isn't commonly taught in the US.<br /><br />Personally, while it's a good thing to know if the P-lead is broken, I don't think it enhances safety by any appreciable margin (except perhaps on very small, starter-less engines like an an old Cub or Moth). If the mixture is fully off, the engine has no fuel and won't fire. But those old engines would be primed and pulled through by hand with the mags off, and *could* fire when not expected if a magnetos was hot.D.B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16311812701887962320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-26374815735476952832012-08-24T04:17:40.017+00:002012-08-24T04:17:40.017+00:00I've had a broken P-lead at least three times ...I've had a broken P-lead at least three times (including the instance when I cut it myself in order to <i>start</i> the engine), so that part definitely happens. <br /><br />Next time you're in town, Angus, lunch and tales.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-82201348988431211782012-08-24T03:13:35.948+00:002012-08-24T03:13:35.948+00:00Sorry to hear about your coworker. Life is fragile...Sorry to hear about your coworker. Life is fragile and everything can change in the blink of an eye...<br /><br />Which is why my first instructor insisted I do the mag check just as you describe. Not everyone does - I remember my first checkride, when my examiner flinched visibly thinking I was shutting down with the mag switch!<br /><br />I've never personally found a broken P-lead, but have heard of those who have. It seems cheap insurance.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991660841701835065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-26946720919736485552012-08-24T03:12:16.415+00:002012-08-24T03:12:16.415+00:00Sorry to hear about your coworker's accident, ...Sorry to hear about your coworker's accident, life is fragile indeed. I knew someone who was killed by a prop via a live magneto, so I'm inclined to say keep checking. The story is long and bizarre, and requires lunch for the telling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07183219862679520786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-58677814953588871152012-08-24T00:33:25.971+00:002012-08-24T00:33:25.971+00:00Fragile. Yeah. I've seen someone take his fina...Fragile. Yeah. I've seen someone take his final breath, and "pulling the mixture levers all the way back" seems like an interesting analogy.Anoynmoushttp://anoymous.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-71089059089834938492012-08-24T00:20:50.906+00:002012-08-24T00:20:50.906+00:00Dear Trix:
I'm sorry to learn that your colle...Dear Trix:<br /><br />I'm sorry to learn that your colleague has been injured. I hope for the best.<br /><br />I've always done the same P-lead check on the mags as you do. Taught to me by my first instructor, and I firmly believe it to be an important (and low cost!) safeguard. Although, I do find that I have to watch line persons carefully as they can be fooled by the apparently imminent shutdown.<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />FrankFrank Van Hastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821687850881538546noreply@blogger.com