by Mike Busch | Aug 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Aircraft owners get lots of bad advice from their A&Ps. Ever wonder where the A&Ps get it from? “I know you’re a strong proponent of the in-flight mag check,” emailed the aircraft owner, “but I have been advised against doing this by my A&P due to concerns...
by Mike Busch | Jul 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Few aviation maintenance tasks are so misunderstood—and so responsible for inappropriate work and expense—as the routine differential compression test. It happens every year: We put our aircraft in the shop for its annual inspection. The IA pulls out the compression...
by Mike Busch | Jun 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
When “stuff happens” to your aircraft, it’s not always someone else’s fault. Regular readers of this column know that I grumble a lot about “stupid mechanic tricks” made by career A&Ps who should know better. Some have accused me of mechanic-bashing. That’s a bit...
by Mike Busch | May 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
The best way to protect against the in-flight failure of any aircraft component is to have two. Or is it? CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONSPART 13—AIRCRAFT ENGINE AIRWORTHINESSSubpart B—Reciprocating Engines§ 13.111 Ignition system. All spark ignition...
by Mike Busch | Apr 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Even a seemingly trivial mistake by a well-intentioned mechanic can have dire consequences. On April 19, 2005, a 1966 Beechcraft Debonair was cruising at 8,500’ on a VFR flight from Van Nuys to San Jose, Calif., when the pilot heard a loud noise and the Continental...
