by Mike Busch | Nov 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Understanding the underlying causes of engine roughness is the key to eliminating it. One of the most common squawks reported by pilots and aircraft owners is a rough-running engine. If the roughness can be duplicated during a ground runup, then the mechanic might...
by Mike Busch | Oct 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Why many career A&Ps are not great troubleshooters. I recently had a fascinating exchange with my friend and colleague Paul New. Paul is an A&P/IA and a truly extraordinary aircraft mechanic who was honored by the FAA as the National Aviation Maintenance...
by Mike Busch | Sep 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
A mechanical problem away from home is every aircraft owner’s worst nightmare. Here’s how one owner dealt with such a nightmare…with a little help. On an otherwise-peaceful Saturday morning, I received a panicky text message from Mark, a Cessna 185 owner from the San...
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...
by Mike Busch | Mar 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Troubleshooting is best accomplished by first gathering data and then analyzing it logically. The owner of a 2005 Cessna T182 was in Key West Florida when he experienced unusual roughness immediately after engine start. The EGT and CHT on the #3 cylinder seemed...
by Mike Busch | Feb 1, 2013 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Can we prevent these catastrophic head-to-barrel separations? On February 24, 2012, the National Transportation Safety Board issued Safety Recommendation A-12-7 to FAA acting administrator Michael Huerta, expressing great concern over 29 cylinder head fatigue failures...
