Skip to main content

Quick update on the engine

I spoke with the shop manager today. They were finished with checking the oil and filter, as well as painting the new trim tab section, and were about to take the plane off to wash it. Snohomish Flying Service includes a wash with the annual inspection, but they waited until the trim tab was painted and dry.

Unfortunately, there was a bit more metal. However, he doesn't know if it was produced in the five or so hours I flew it last weekend, or it was left over in the engine from before and hadn't yet made its way to the filter. He asked me to fly it five to ten more hours and then they'll check it again.

In the meantime, they collected an oil sample which I will need to send in for analysis. I had assumed that they would do that, but apparently it's up to me to do it, and also to pay for it directly. The sample and associated paperwork will be in the plane. They filled out much of the form; I'll just need to fill out the rest and send it off. I will also need to arrange payment. He said I could write my credit card info on the form, but I am extremely reluctant to include that information in a package I'm sending through the mail or via a shipping company like UPS or FedEx.

I don't know where it's going to be sent. As far as I know there are multiple companies that do this, but the one I've heard about most often is Blackstone Labs. I checked on their website and, assuming that's where it's going, analysis is $30 and I can pay them directly through the site.

Hopefully the engine is good for a while yet, but I'm prepared to deal with an overhaul or replacement if necessary. My bank account won't like it, but I do have funds set aside for airplane maintenance, and for other unexpected expenses, so it's something I can handle if I have to.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Predicting the weather is hard

At least, it's hard for this region of the country. I like to say that predicting the weather for the Puget Sound region is far more an art than it is a science. Early last week, the weather forecast was for pretty much crappy weather for the foreseeable future. However, because of the chaotic nature of the atmosphere around here, especially at this time of year, the forecast is always subject to change. As it turns out, the weather was actually nice enough last Friday afternoon (December 17) that I was able to go up for about an hour and a half. One of the reasons I went up was because I had filled the tanks after the previous flight, and I wanted to burn off some fuel in case I was able to take my father flying while we visiting from Arizona. As I'm sure I've mentioned, the weight and balance of my plane is such that I'd be over maximum weight if I had a passenger in the front seat, the required ballast in the baggage compartment to stay within the forward CG limit, a...
1 comment
Read more

A digression, if I may...

The other night, after almost 50 years, the Saturn V was dethroned as the most powerful rocket ever successfully launched by humanity. I use the word "successfully" because the Soviet N1 rocket actually generated more thrust at liftoff, but all four launch attempts ended in failure. For the first time since Apollo 17, a true moon rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying a spacecraft capable of carrying humans back to the moon. This Artemis mission is a test flight, so no astronauts are on board the Orion spacecraft. Despite that, it was a spectacular launch. Because the SLS launch vehicle has a higher thrust-to-weight ratio than the Saturn V, it rose from the launch pad much more quickly than it's predecessor. I think it's a bit heavier than the Space Shuttle, but it has more thrust due to an additional RS-25 engine, and more powerful solid rocket boosters. Watching it rise into the night sky, I was excited, but also a bit melancholy. This was ...
1 comment
Read more

Approaching the annual

I know I haven't been posting much, but that's mainly because nothing much of note has been happening. I've been flying, but not really going anywhere in particular. The engine continues to run very well, and the plane is still solid. I was hoping to do more "destination" flying this year but, for whatever reason(s), it didn't really happen. Next year, hopefully.... On the horizon, though, is the annual inspection. It's already scheduled for mid-December, since the last annual is good to the end of that month. I've also arranged for it to be an owner-assisted annual. I'm told that every airplane owner should do this at least once and I can certainly understand why that is the case, even before I do it. I will be learning about my airplane in a way that nothing else will match and, incidentally, save some money at the same time. I'm looking forward to it. Leading up to the annual, I have been compiling a list of squawks that I want to take care ...
Post a Comment
Read more