by Mike Busch | Aug 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
We have the technology to prevent these failures by detecting them in the incipient phase. Last month we discussed how exhaust valves fail and why they sometimes fail prematurely. This month, we’ll shift our focus to how we can monitor exhaust valve condition, detect...
by Mike Busch | Jul 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Exhaust valves are the most heat-stressed components in your piston aircraft engine, and the most likely to fail prior to TBO. Here’s what you need to know about them. I experienced my first in-flight exhaust valve failure about twenty years ago. The engine started...
by Mike Busch | Jun 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Your maintenance shop’s paperwork can make all the difference between a good outcome and a nightmare. When he contacted me, the owner of a pristine turbonormalized A36 Bonanza seemed obviously frustrated: I manage to fly only 50 to 75 hours a year, but my annual...
by Mike Busch | May 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Every pilot understands the notion of “pilot in command.” That’s because we all had some certificated flight instructor (CFI) who mercilessly pounded this essential concept into our heads throughout our pilot training. Hopefully, it stuck. As pilot-in-command (PIC),...
by Mike Busch | Apr 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
How do we assess whether a piston aircraft engine is airworthy? Compression tests and oil consumption are only part of the story—a smaller part than most owners and mechanics think. My friend Bob Moseley is far too humble to call himself a guru, but he knows as much...
by Mike Busch | Mar 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
By Mike Busch To apply RCM principles properly to the maintenance of our piston aircraft engines, we need to analyze the failure modes and failure consequences of each major component part of those engines. Last month, we looked at the issue of catastrophic failures...
by Mike Busch | Feb 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
Last month, we examined the principles of RCM used by the airlines and military to achieve cost-effective maintenance. Now, let’s explore how RCM can be applied to our small GA aircraft, and especially to our piston aircraft engines. For three decades, the airlines...
by Mike Busch | Jan 1, 2010 | EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, Magazine Articles
A strategy known as “Reliability-Centered Maintenance” has drastically reduced the cost of maintaining transport and military aircraft, while simultaneously improving dispatch reliability. Isn’t it time we applied this approach to piston GA? More than 30 years ago, in...
