Thanks for the response. I will call Teledyne tomorrow and get their opinion, from the horse's mouth so to speak. It's a little puzzling to me, however, that this mechanic chose to return this battery to service after being frozen if it is, in fact, a "slightly damaged grenade" as you described it, awaiting discharge inside the cockpit's luggage area. If he is that inept at his job, how then could one justify paying such a mechanic for putting me in harm's way with a battery that is (allegedly) waiting to explode? Either he is a bad mechanic or he is by his actions purposely allowing an aircraft part known to him to be defective to be placed back into service thus, by definition, declaring same as airworthy whether he signs off on it in a log book or simply presenting me with a bill for recharging, testing, and replacing the battery we're discussing here. To tell you the truth, if I find out that this battery should have been replaced, I'm going to try and have this mechanic disciplined for gross malpractice. Damned if I'm going to take a chance on getting myself, or possibly a passenger of mine, or some other person or persons, killed due to his negligence. I am not a certificated aircraft mechanic; therefore I must rely, by law, on one who is to do what is right and proper to protect the airworthiness of my airplane. Thanks for the heads up.
Respectfully, Carl LaVon -- In [email protected], wdelro...@... wrote: > > Ed, > > If I'm reading?FAR 43 correctly, this maintenance action?should be entered into the Aircraft (not Engine) logbook.? > > But I'd be willing to bet you a cold Coke that your mechanic will not be willing to enter the problem (frozen battery) and corrective action (thawed, recharged and reinstalled battery) in your logbook.? ? I don't know the?manufacturer of your battery, but?I would suggest that you?contact the manufacturer and see what they have to say about thawing out a frozen battery and putting it back in service. > > The Gill's Maintenance manual says to replace the battery if it is frozen.? > > See: > http://gillbatteries.com/pdfs/Flooded_Service_Manual.pdf > > From Page 37: > Problem, Cause and Recommendations > > > > > > > > > Electrolyte in battery freezes. > > > > Battery left in a discharged state. > > Electrolyte specific gravity too > > > > Replace battery. > > > > > ? > So whatever brand of battery you have, I doubt that your mechanic is going to be able to sign that off "in accordance with" anything at all. > > Technicalities and legalities aside, there's no way I would fly an airplane with a battery that had been frozen, thawed and recharged.? To me, that's like flying?around with a slightly damaged grenade?in the baggage compartment.? Too much energy, no containment if something goes wrong. > > BTW, for what it's worth, I agree with you about the bill.? I wouldn't complain at all about 1 hour of labor cost?to remove, charge and reinstall a battery in a Coupe.? That seems more than reasonable.? For that 1 hour charge you got his time (even if it was only 12 minutes), his tools,?his battery charger, his electricity, his insurance coverage, and probably the use of his facility.? When I pay my mechanic, I?am always worried that he's not charging enough to stay in business and that he won't be there when I need him again!? > > > As always, just my opinion. > > Best Regards, > > Wayne DelRossi > Alon N5618F > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: carl_lavon <profedi...@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 4:45 pm > Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Battery repair... > > > > > > > I told the group recently of my leaving the master switch on and my > battery going dead and freezing. Line guy removed the battery, let it > thaw, charged it, a mechanic tested it then left it on the bench for > two days, re-tested and inspected the battery again and returned it to > service. Question: Is that something that should be included in my > aircraft log or engine log? Or is it of no consequence and not worth > an entry? And, yes, they charged me a full hour for about 12 minutes > work! I'm disabled and not a mechanic and I don't play one on TV, so > I'm not bitching (I guess) about tbe bill. I'm asking because this is > my first aircraft and I'm not sure what should be included insofar as > aircraft and engine log entries go. My Grandfather always said that > the only stupid question... > > Respects and thanks in advance, > > Carl LaVon > N415CB '46 ERCO 415C > KJVY >
