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Eliacim,
The most likely cause of engine failure is lack of fuel. When the header
tank float starts down, land and get fuel! Some have reported that a passenger's
leg closed the wing to fuel pump valve on entering the seat, leaving only the
header tank to supply fuel...." But I had full wing tanks"....So, during final
preflight, check the wing tank to header valve to be sure it is in the on
position. It is supposed to be safetied in the on position with thin copper
wire.
The next most ( maybe the most ) cause of loss of power is not applying
carb heat when one closes the throttle.. The high velocity and fuel evaporative
physics decreases the carb temp about 35 deg F. So on a warm day 65 - 70 deg F,
and high humidity, the freezing point of water is reached quickly..causing ice
buildup in the throat if the carb,,,and the engine quits running....
Sad about the fellow with the throttle cable bolt missing a cotter
pin........one should check these things on preflight. Glad he made it into the
wheat field OK....I know he feels the installation folks erred, and probably so,
but they will argue that it is the pilots responsibility to pre flight the a/C
before every flight.....After all, it flew several hours before
failure.....maybe someone removed it....we surely put one in.... Sure am glad he
made it into the wheat field ok.
Once upon a time I installed a spring on the throttle system to open the
throttle IF the cable broke, or bolts fell out. This was a result of a
friends off field landing due to water in the throttle cable...it froze
open...and instead of letting the engine run fast, he pulled and pulled until he
broke the throttle handle/cable...now the engine went to Idle. He, too, made a
safe off field landing, but did damage the coupe...
Fly Safe - Have fun
Harry Francis
N93530
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