Recent content by Frank

I think the idea is to have some reference should the vacuum system fail,in which case you have the TC. If only the electric system fails, you lose the TC, but have vacuum instruments. There may be common mode failures for both vacuum system and electrical system, but they are relatively rare...

If a part of the plane is clean when the mechanic begins the inspection, then it seems to me there is no need to clean that part again to ensure the aircraft is clean. I would not sign off that I had completed an inspection if any part of the plane I was working on was not clean when I began...

I weigh a little much for most LSAs. I would like to know which real world numbers exist for full fuel payload, and what LSA has the most generous legal real world payload. I know the Zlin Savage has one configuration open to the breeze, that appears to have a relatively high useful load, but...

That was my original point. The owner is paying for a lot of things that he could have taken care of himself. Maybe Tom and the owner have a good relationship, and all will work out well. Unfortunately, some owners report alleged "horror" stories about expensive annuals, and I have to wonder...

You have me by about 11 years.

My A dates to 1972 and my P dates to 1976. Bar admission was 1981. I am not in practice, although I just had to fill out my IOLTA and Pro Bono reports to maintain my admitted status. I get to talk to the FAA a little more than most folks do, but usually not in adversarial relationships...

Not only am I an A&P, but oddly enough an attorney, as well. The meaning of the words is subject to rules of statutory interpretation, which means that "thoroughly" means what a reasonable person would understand it to mean, and the court will generally give deference to the FAA's...

Originally Posted by Frank View Post So tell me, is removing the tail cone on your preflight checklist? No, but looking in where the stabilator spar comes through is, and I have found birds' nests. , the owner should ensured the airworthiness certificate was present Not if it is out...

Three of the things you mentioned should not have happened. The pilots who flew the plane should have found the birds' nest, the owner should ensured the airworthiness certificate was present, and someone who inspected the plane between the Mt. St. Helens eruption and now should have found and...

I read the Stinson group on Yahoo Groups and there is extensive discussion of Franklin engines there, and one regular poster has a business that deals in Franklin Engines and parts. It apparently was her mother's business, and she is continuing the business as best she can. The best I can...

I am proposing to use the desiccant inside the cabin/cockpit in order to fight issues such as the spar corrosion on Cessna high wings. The moisture builds up during the day and, when the plane cools at night, condenses on the spar. There is also some issue about moisture building up inside the...

I do not have any opinion yet. What mystifies me is why it would seem to work on boats, although as a pilot and aircraft mechanic I would be perfectly willing to stipulate that boat owners are more gullible, and as a whole, not as wise, as pilots and aircraft mechanics. However going on the...

My basement has a lot more volume than a typical aircraft cabin.

Corrosion is a big problem in GA aircraft as they get older. One key ingredient in starting corrosion is moisture. I was talking about this at Bay Bridge Airport today and one person in the lounge, a boater, asked why not use some kind of desiccant, often used for boats stored over winter. I...

If by 150, you mean Cessna 150, then there are some differences in how it flies. The wing has a lower aspect ratio than a Cessna 150, so it sinks a lot more when you pull the power off. You have a steeper power off approach, and you need to be fairly precise on roundout. if by 150 you mean...