Heads up for everyone. After 300+ flights in my Dimona here in the states (Montana), I had a bit of a surprise when attempting a relight.
At about 2000 feet above ground level, and just after crossing a ridge, I unfeathered the propeller and tapped the starter button. Nothing. I pitched over steeply and did a windmill start, with the prop turning over somewhere above 70 knots. The small field immediately below me really looked unattractive. Back home, I discovered that the spade connector on the starter solenoid lead wire had vibrated free of its mate on the solenoid. I crimped the tabs a bit, as is my usual practice with these things during maintenance, and reinstalled the wire. I'll come up with a tie-wrap or something to keep it in its proper neighborhood in the future, but it sure isn't what I am used to on certificated aircraft. Points of interest: 1) it is worth checking this wire terminal connection at inspection time and during preflights. 2) If you haven't practiced windmill starts, consider doing so soon. (I have done several windmill starts for practice.) I don't think timidity would be the best answer. It is surprising how long it takes to accelerate when you pitch over. I even saw this once in a 737 simulator during a test pilot course. Plan on using up a few hundred feet of altitude. 3) Trouble-shooting could include checking your starter's circuit breaker, which made no difference at all in this instance. I opted for the windmill start before consuming time trouble-shooting. (Common contemporary airline practice now is to not reset a breaker that has popped. There is risk of starting an electrical fire.) 4) My personal rule is to do a relight at or above 2000 feet AGL, providing the cushion that I needed today. Cheers, Michael Stockhill N191BZ
