by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
“Requesting analysis to understand the possible root causes on this engine start,” Willy posted at the beginning of his newly-created SavvyAnalysis ticket. “I hadn’t run my 1966 Beechcraft Bonanza V35’s engine for two weeks, and when I started it I noticed that EGT #3...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
“Welcome to SavvyPrebuy, Mark!” Savvy’s technical director Jeff Iskierka posted to the newly-opened prebuy ticket. “ We’re delighted that you have hired us to manage a prebuy examination of this 1949 Stinson 108-3.” Mark lives in the Pacific Northwest, and this...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
A few minutes after noon on Saturday, James Watson A&P/IA heard his smartphone beep to alert him to an incoming text message. The message read: “N1357B is AOG at O59. Engine lost power. Had to make an emergency landing. Phillip 503-708-1212.” James was the on-call...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
Jack is an Albuquerque-based pilot looking to purchase his first airplane. Despite his being a first-time buyer, he had his heart set on buying a piston twin. (Apparently he didn’t read Mike’s 1997 AVweb article Do You Really Want a Twin? which makes a...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
“There appears to be a spike in the #5 CHT on the most recent flight of our SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad,” Mark wrote on his SavvyAnalysis Pro ticket. “The plane seemed okay afterwards, but the #5 EGT is now running higher than normal. Could you take a look, please?” Savvy’s...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
“During an attempt to dial the prop flange of the Lycoming O-540 in my 1968 Piper PA-28-235 Pathfinder, it was noticed the crankshaft would chatter while rotating it slowly,” Frank said in his initial post to a SavvyQA ticket. “My mechanic says ‘it feels like...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
Piper introduced the PA-28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder in 1963 as its competitive answer to the Cessna 182 Skylane. Powered by a 235-hp Lycoming O-540 engine with a gross weight of 2,900 pounds, it could “lift anything you could close the doors on.” In 1972, Piper...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
Jim, Jack and Gene are members of the faculty at Indiana University in Bloomington. They are also partners in a 1968 Cessna 177 Cardinal based at Monroe County Airport (KBMG).The Cardinal was first introduced by Cessna in 1968 as a successor to the venerable 172...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
Mac owned an A36 Bonanza for ten years, but he’d sold it and was now looking to move up to a twin. His online research uncovered a promising purchase candidate, a 1980 Beechcraft E55 Baron, and he knew he’d need a thorough prebuy to find out if this airplane was...
by Mike Busch | Dec 7, 2023 | Savvy Stories
Doug and Andy lavished their 1969 Cessna 182M Skylane with both love and money. Two years ago they’d treated her to a zero-time Continental O-470-R. To make sure they were treating the new engine properly, they’d upgraded their engine monitor to a spiffy new...