Skip to main content

A difficult post

After the last oil change which we did at about 13 hours, the oil analysis showed that the amount of iron had decreased further and it was looking like it was a "one and done" incident. Per my mechanic's recommendation, I flew it for 25 hours before the next oil change.

That oil change was just performed... and the news is not good at all. This time, a considerable amount of metal was found in the suction filter screen and the oil filter. There was enough there that my mechanic grounded the plane. The decision has been made: the engine is coming off and will likely need to be overhauled. While it is possible that the engine only has to be repaired (e.g. if the metal is from the camshaft and everything else, like the bearings, looks good), I'm acting on the assumption that an overhaul will happen.

My emotional state with respect to this development is complex. On one hand, I feel kind of sick to my stomach when I contemplate the cost I'm about to pay both in money and in down time. On the other hand, I'm kind of looking forward to the process and to breaking in a freshly overhauled engine. As with pretty much everything that has happened since I bought this plane, it will be a learning experience. I'm relieved in a way that there is no more ambiguity as to the condition of the engine. The process we followed worked as intended. It gave us the answer, even though it wasn't the one I wanted, and did so before the engine's operation was affected.

I'm in the process of obtaining quotes from several service centers. Preston, the shop manager, is getting a quote from his preferred overhaul shop. While price is a primary consideration, time is as well and I'd be willing to pay a bit more if it means getting back in the air sooner. I just need to temper my expectations around how long it will take. I'm looking at probably three months minimum.

In the meantime, I need to practice my skills. I'll be doing some desk-flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane for sure. I'll probably go back to renting for the time being. I need to get signed off in the 172 again with an instructor as well. Although the FAA is fine with me just jumping into the plane and taking off, the rental firm isn't. I may get signed off in the 152 as well. This also means getting renter's insurance again.

Another option would be to get my taildragger endorsement, even if I end up never using it. It'll give me something to do and could come in handy in the future. I expect it will make me a better pilot if only because it'll be done in a plane that is probably more challenging to fly.

So now this blog will effectively transform from an account of flying my plane into an account of having my engine overhauled. I suspect I'm going to have a lot to write about.

Comments

  1. GaryMarch 10, 2022 at 5:11 AM

    Sorry to hear the news. I hope things move along at a good pace and I'll be interested to follow this next part of the journey.

    ReplyDelete

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