skidoo
Line Up and Wait
I Had a great day today. It was full sunshine like I haven't seen for months. Anyway, we took off, got to altitude, set medium cruise power, about 22" hg, closed cowl flaps, and then leaned it to about 1625 TIT. Peak would get it to the max 1685 limit.
So after a little cruise, my instructor has me set up for slow flight at about 65 KIAS. I pull back power and adjust the nose to maintain altitude. We are now putting along at about 65 and I ask him if he recognizes that smell. Like somethings burning. He says he doesn't smell anything. He says maybe exhaust fumes due to the lower airspeed. About a minute later, he says looks like the TIT is getting warm and starts adjusting the mixture richer. I look and it was at the very top of the green. There was no digital reading on that particular screen. The immediate concern was to get the temp a bit lower immediately. At the time, I couldn't quite describe the smell. It was a light smell, nothing distinctive. Now that I had time to think about it, I would say is was similar to the hot metal of a wood stove (but without the wood smell).
Shortly thereafter, we re-established cruise speed and re-leaned. The smell went away.
I'm not sure if the TIT max event occurred during the slow flight portion or just after that when powering up to re-establish cruise speed. I think at some point there, power was up above 23" hg, which is above the power where I first leaned it.
So, what should I learn from this today? Should the Cowl Flaps have been opened below a certain airspeed? Should I be observing and adjusting lean for the TIT with any significant airspeed change, or perhaps just for an increase in power level?
Any other words of wisdom from which I can improve? I'll also discuss it further with my CFI next time.
So after a little cruise, my instructor has me set up for slow flight at about 65 KIAS. I pull back power and adjust the nose to maintain altitude. We are now putting along at about 65 and I ask him if he recognizes that smell. Like somethings burning. He says he doesn't smell anything. He says maybe exhaust fumes due to the lower airspeed. About a minute later, he says looks like the TIT is getting warm and starts adjusting the mixture richer. I look and it was at the very top of the green. There was no digital reading on that particular screen. The immediate concern was to get the temp a bit lower immediately. At the time, I couldn't quite describe the smell. It was a light smell, nothing distinctive. Now that I had time to think about it, I would say is was similar to the hot metal of a wood stove (but without the wood smell).
Shortly thereafter, we re-established cruise speed and re-leaned. The smell went away.
I'm not sure if the TIT max event occurred during the slow flight portion or just after that when powering up to re-establish cruise speed. I think at some point there, power was up above 23" hg, which is above the power where I first leaned it.
So, what should I learn from this today? Should the Cowl Flaps have been opened below a certain airspeed? Should I be observing and adjusting lean for the TIT with any significant airspeed change, or perhaps just for an increase in power level?
Any other words of wisdom from which I can improve? I'll also discuss it further with my CFI next time.