----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----I'm the guy in the wheat field. In all my training, and watching lots of pilots preflight, I've never seen anyone examine the throttle controls under the cowl while preflighting. I'm not saying it's not a good idea, though. I guess I made the mistake of assuming everything was in place and safe. I will be examining this linkage fairly often in the future, I can tell you that. Ironically, I had scheduled another mechanic to review the installation this week. Didn't quite make it. The folks at the FBO where the plane is now will be going it over quite thoroughly.
I can say that my insurance company, and the mechanic at the field both felt the installer should be responsible. Since the plane and I are both fine, I'm a bit more charitable.
Larry
N99340
On May 20, 2006, at 10:35 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----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 funHarry FrancisN93530============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
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