Gubbins
Ejection Handle Pulled
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2011
- Messages
- 379
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gone for good
I thought I would share my experiences as a warm weather Texas based
recreational pilot flying into a cold location so that someone out there may
learn from my experiences of perhaps what NOT to do.
I planned a trip from Dallas to Chicago to attend a conference, and thought it
would be a good opportunity to do a longer trip than typical for my in my Cessna 206. I watched the weather for days, planning the perfect time to go between the inevitable wintry weather events so that I wouldn't have to deal with any ice. My plan was to arrive on Wednesday last week. It turned out that
on Thursday/Friday a snowstorm was forecast to hit so a Wednesday arrival should get me in before it got too exciting. I originally planned to land at Midway, but they did not have any hangar space available, so ended up arranging to go to DuPage instead. Nice flight there, and did the GPS 20R approach through a solid overcast. I only got my IR seven months ago, so really enjoyed doing a "real" instrument approach. Nice easy landing, and got my plane safely stored in a warm hangar so that I wouldn't have to deal with removing snow, or dealing with a cold plane (or so I thought). Unfortunately the trip back wasn't quite as good. It snowed Thursday night through Friday, with quite a few icing reports and an icing airmet on friday so I elected to wait until Saturday to leave. On Saturday, I got to the airport nice and early (6 AM) so that I could get home at a decent time. I had called ahead to have my plane brought to the ramp at 6:30 AM. The temperature was 17 F with a clear sky and fairly brisk wind. When I got there, my plane hadn't been brought out yet which I was pleased to see since I didn't want it to have stood outside and cooled down too much.
Did my preflight and nearly froze to death (no gloves, no hat and a lousy jacket), and was so pleased to get into the plane so I could start it up and get warm. Turned the key, and the engine started and turned for maybe four or five seconds then turned off! Cursing myself for letting it die, I tried cranking again. The engine turned over very slowly and pathetically, and it was QUITE clear that the battery had decided that I had had my chance, and blown it, and too bad I was not going to get another chance. So, out I got, freezing and back to the FBO office to ask for a jump start. Two guys were there, and they said they would have to get the power unit from the other side of the airport. So I waited at the plane, freezing a little more waiting for maybe 10 or 15 minutes. One of them plugged the plane in and told me how he hates jumping Cessnas, said it is one of the most dangerous aspects of his job (that made me feel bad that my ineptitude was causing him to fear for his life). Anyway, got it plugged in, and turned the engine. Engine turned over like it should, but nothing. I tried several more starts. Nothing. Tried a flooded start thinking I had flooded it. Nothing. Not knowing what else to do, I asked for a preheat as well. That was another truck that had to come out while I continued regretting my poor choice
in clothes on that fine winter's day. Did the whole preheat thing for 10 minutes or so, while I was sitting there wondering what to do next. They disconnected the preheat, and we tried again. The engine started immediately! I was delirious with joy, thinking now I can get on my way, get some heat going in the plane and try to thaw out some of my frostbite that I was sure I had by now.
I waited patiently for the oil temperture to rise, got the weather, got my IFR clearance, and then asked to taxi to the active. But, alas, my adventure was not over. I did my runup, waited for my IFR release then was cleared to take
off. I turned onto the runway, and started to roll. The plane immediately pulled to the right, HARD, so I stopped and told the tower I had a problem and wanted to taxi back. The tower cleared me to do a 180 on the runway, and back to the taxiway. This is when I discovered that the right wheel was completely and utterly locked up. I could only turn in a right circle. So here I was on the damn runway, completely baffled as to why this was the case (I'm a transplant from South Africa living in Texas, I don't know about brakes freezing or other such nonsense). The tower helpfully offered to get my a tug. My two dear now longtime friends from the FBO came back in their truck and we hooked the plane up to drag it back to the FBO. They warned me if the wheel locked up and started dragging, they would have to get a dolly and that the operation
would now be considered a "salvage" operation with specific hourly charges. This is when I started seeing visions of hundred dollar bills with wings flying out the window in a great green flock... So I sat on the right side, dispairing, looking out the window at the right wheel while they towed it slowly. I could hear the brake dragging. Then, suddenly, it freed itself. So I asked them to unhitch me in a vacant part of the ramp so I could see how it was performing. Now all this time, I'm thinking that the damn engine probably won't start again and that I would never fly to a cold place ever again! But, luckily, it started fine and I spent quite a bit of time taxiing around, trying the brakes, and convincing myself that all was well. I then contacted clearance again, and had to sheepishly ask for my IFR clearance for the second time.
The rest of the flight was perfect, and I was very happy to return to a warm Dallas a few hours later. I will be getting the battery checked and possibly replaced this week. In spite of the frostbite, I did learn some valuable points.
1. Take gloves, hats and a proper winter jacket when flying to a cold place!
2. Make sure the battery is top notch before the trip, and within spec because you don't want to be
stranded in the cold.
3. Even if it has been in the hangar, ask for a preheat if it is cold outside.
4. I don't know what I could have done about the frozen brake. Any ideas?
Thanks for listening.
recreational pilot flying into a cold location so that someone out there may
learn from my experiences of perhaps what NOT to do.
I planned a trip from Dallas to Chicago to attend a conference, and thought it
would be a good opportunity to do a longer trip than typical for my in my Cessna 206. I watched the weather for days, planning the perfect time to go between the inevitable wintry weather events so that I wouldn't have to deal with any ice. My plan was to arrive on Wednesday last week. It turned out that
on Thursday/Friday a snowstorm was forecast to hit so a Wednesday arrival should get me in before it got too exciting. I originally planned to land at Midway, but they did not have any hangar space available, so ended up arranging to go to DuPage instead. Nice flight there, and did the GPS 20R approach through a solid overcast. I only got my IR seven months ago, so really enjoyed doing a "real" instrument approach. Nice easy landing, and got my plane safely stored in a warm hangar so that I wouldn't have to deal with removing snow, or dealing with a cold plane (or so I thought). Unfortunately the trip back wasn't quite as good. It snowed Thursday night through Friday, with quite a few icing reports and an icing airmet on friday so I elected to wait until Saturday to leave. On Saturday, I got to the airport nice and early (6 AM) so that I could get home at a decent time. I had called ahead to have my plane brought to the ramp at 6:30 AM. The temperature was 17 F with a clear sky and fairly brisk wind. When I got there, my plane hadn't been brought out yet which I was pleased to see since I didn't want it to have stood outside and cooled down too much.
Did my preflight and nearly froze to death (no gloves, no hat and a lousy jacket), and was so pleased to get into the plane so I could start it up and get warm. Turned the key, and the engine started and turned for maybe four or five seconds then turned off! Cursing myself for letting it die, I tried cranking again. The engine turned over very slowly and pathetically, and it was QUITE clear that the battery had decided that I had had my chance, and blown it, and too bad I was not going to get another chance. So, out I got, freezing and back to the FBO office to ask for a jump start. Two guys were there, and they said they would have to get the power unit from the other side of the airport. So I waited at the plane, freezing a little more waiting for maybe 10 or 15 minutes. One of them plugged the plane in and told me how he hates jumping Cessnas, said it is one of the most dangerous aspects of his job (that made me feel bad that my ineptitude was causing him to fear for his life). Anyway, got it plugged in, and turned the engine. Engine turned over like it should, but nothing. I tried several more starts. Nothing. Tried a flooded start thinking I had flooded it. Nothing. Not knowing what else to do, I asked for a preheat as well. That was another truck that had to come out while I continued regretting my poor choice
in clothes on that fine winter's day. Did the whole preheat thing for 10 minutes or so, while I was sitting there wondering what to do next. They disconnected the preheat, and we tried again. The engine started immediately! I was delirious with joy, thinking now I can get on my way, get some heat going in the plane and try to thaw out some of my frostbite that I was sure I had by now.
I waited patiently for the oil temperture to rise, got the weather, got my IFR clearance, and then asked to taxi to the active. But, alas, my adventure was not over. I did my runup, waited for my IFR release then was cleared to take
off. I turned onto the runway, and started to roll. The plane immediately pulled to the right, HARD, so I stopped and told the tower I had a problem and wanted to taxi back. The tower cleared me to do a 180 on the runway, and back to the taxiway. This is when I discovered that the right wheel was completely and utterly locked up. I could only turn in a right circle. So here I was on the damn runway, completely baffled as to why this was the case (I'm a transplant from South Africa living in Texas, I don't know about brakes freezing or other such nonsense). The tower helpfully offered to get my a tug. My two dear now longtime friends from the FBO came back in their truck and we hooked the plane up to drag it back to the FBO. They warned me if the wheel locked up and started dragging, they would have to get a dolly and that the operation
would now be considered a "salvage" operation with specific hourly charges. This is when I started seeing visions of hundred dollar bills with wings flying out the window in a great green flock... So I sat on the right side, dispairing, looking out the window at the right wheel while they towed it slowly. I could hear the brake dragging. Then, suddenly, it freed itself. So I asked them to unhitch me in a vacant part of the ramp so I could see how it was performing. Now all this time, I'm thinking that the damn engine probably won't start again and that I would never fly to a cold place ever again! But, luckily, it started fine and I spent quite a bit of time taxiing around, trying the brakes, and convincing myself that all was well. I then contacted clearance again, and had to sheepishly ask for my IFR clearance for the second time.
The rest of the flight was perfect, and I was very happy to return to a warm Dallas a few hours later. I will be getting the battery checked and possibly replaced this week. In spite of the frostbite, I did learn some valuable points.
1. Take gloves, hats and a proper winter jacket when flying to a cold place!
2. Make sure the battery is top notch before the trip, and within spec because you don't want to be
stranded in the cold.
3. Even if it has been in the hangar, ask for a preheat if it is cold outside.
4. I don't know what I could have done about the frozen brake. Any ideas?
Thanks for listening.
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