by Mike Busch | Nov 1, 2020 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
Maintenance-induced problems are common, and it often an experienced pair of eyes to diagnose them. Elko Regional Airport (KEKO) is located in northeast Nevada at an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level, and is known for its competitive avgas prices. It’s pretty...
by Mike Busch | Oct 1, 2020 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
There’s a lot more to piston aircraft engine oil than you might think Friction and wear are caused by fracturing of “micro-welds” between moving surfaces. When it comes to piston aircraft engines, the role of engine oil is complicated. It lubricates moving parts to...
by Mike Busch | Sep 1, 2020 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
What if your airplane breaks and there’s no one to fix it? Being a dyed-in-the-wool technology freak, I drive a Tesla Model 3. It has been a superbly reliable vehicle that doesn’t require maintenance very often. When I take my Tesla to the dealership for maintenance,...
by Mike Busch | Aug 1, 2020 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
Why it’s no substitute for a proper independent prebuy. Shortly after the student pilot buyer and his CFI ferried the Warrior from Texas to California, the buyer’s mechanic found nearly a half-teaspoon of ferrous metal in the Lycoming’s suction screen and oil filter....
by Mike Busch | Jul 1, 2020 | AOPA Pilot Magazine, Magazine Articles
…and how you can avoid engine damage and power loss if you know the answer. A stuck exhaust valve caused a bent pushrod and broken pushrod housing on this Lycoming engine. If you fly behind a Continental or Lycoming, each of your engine’s cylinders has two valves,...
