Ask the A&Ps
Experts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling answer your toughest aviation maintenance questions. Submit questions to podcasts@aopa.org. New episodes are released the first and fifteenth of every month.
Episodes
"Your mechanic feels than you do"
A fidgety fuel problem, octane ratings, and water in the oil are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Gareth has a turbo Arrow and he's been fighting a problem with fluctuation fuel flow. Sometimes the engine quits on the ground or runs rough in the air. They've checked the
"It's in your head"
Very cold cylinders, sort of warm cylinders, turbochargers, and pressurized mags are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Bill has a Cessna 182S with the Lycoming IO-540 and he has a temperature issue with his number 2 cylinder. Climbing out at full rich he would
"I always try to buy high and sell low"
Carbon monoxide, kickbacks, avionics upgrades, and leaning radials are on tap. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Bill has a Cessna 210 and in climb he gets 50-100 ppm on his CO gauge. When he levels and goes lean of peak it goes back to normal. He's also noticed that if he puts the heat on he
"Too much data is a bad thing"
Worn intake valves, pitted camshafts, shock cooling, and AD compliance are on the docket.
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Norm wonders whether condition-based maintenance and inspections failed him. He is co-owners in an airplane with a Lycoming IO-360, and after a few years they found a cr
"TBO is not a reason to do anything to an engine"
Rising temperatures, unnecessary overhauls, unusual rigging, and ancient cloth in the wheel well are featured. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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"If you lose a cylinder in your Cessna 150 you are down on a road somewhere"
Sticky valves, sleepy valves, and valves destined for the trash are on tap this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Mac is trying to get a cylinder to wake up on his Piper Lance. The engine ran rough, and a magneto clearing procedure didn't help. The number 5 cylinder was droppi
"Am I doing anything evil?"
Avoiding maintenance can be a good thing when what's recommended is unnecessary.
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Dominick is questioning his mechanic's advice on prop overhauls. He has a Cessna 310 and his left rpm is too low on approach when the control is full forward. It's not an issue
"That installation is fraught with peril"
How much should a mechanic tell a client during an annual? Mike, Paul, and Colleen handle this question and more.
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Justin flies a Twin Bonanza and cylinder 5 on his left engine takes as much as a minute to fire up and start running. It comes online fastest i
"I'm an old mechanic and really like the idea of priming and painting"
Quick corrosion, long-lasting engines, and mobility mods are on tap for this episode.
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Patrick is looking for the right fit on a potential aircraft purchase. He had a shoulder replacement and lost some mobility in his right shoulder. He’s wondering if h
"That's an oft-reported myth"
Is going past TBO more expensive? Plus fuel vents and turbocharger temps. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Mike wonders if running past TBO actually costs more. He has
a Mooney and has heard that overhauls far beyond TBO can cost more as a result
of having to replace more parts. Tha
“Is this like pulling a mattress tag off?”
What exactly should we be looking for in our cylinders? Plus torque tales, making TBO, and overzealous manufacturers.
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Jared asks what he should be looking for with his borescope. He’s seen bad valves and what that looks like, but he’s also hoping to see
"The owner can't do maintenance because the owner doesn't have arms"
The definitive guide to owner maintenance, slipping starter adapters, and close CHT tolerances.
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"You're going to give him nightmares"
Creative leaning techniques, rusty cylinders, and odd manifold pressure indications are on tap this time.
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"He has a piston with a smiley face on it that's not very happy"
Old engines, rusty airplanes, and a strange valve incident are the puzzlers for Mike, Paul, and Colleen this episode. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full episode notes below:
John has a Beech Musketeer who had an unusual situation with his valve. The valve seat separated from the cylinder bar
"Just be sure you lube it with something"
Pre-emptive engine overhauls, upgrading an old electrical system, spark plug anti-seize, and old wood wing concerns are on tap for this episode.
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Full episode notes below:
Lance inherited some furniture that had lived in the Midwest for 200 years, and began spl
"If you go to 76 percent, the wings will fall off"
A creative modification, lean of peak with turbocharging, electronic ignition, and oil leaks are on tap. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Tom has a turbocharged Mooney and he's wondering how to manage it while lean of peak. The hosts say the first goal is to get on the lean side quickly, and t
"It's one of the few accidents where you get to choose where it happens"
Mike, Paul, and Colleen dig deep for some detailed troubleshooting on digital fuel indicators, oil temperature, gear problems, and more this episode.
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Will's fuel indicators are giving off infrequent red Xs on his Garmin G1000, and it started h
"Being an aircraft owner is the hardest job in aviation"
From maintaining aircraft records to dealing with bad advice and sub-standard parts, Mike, Paul, and Colleen say being an aircraft owner is one of the hardest jobs in aviation.
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Randy wants to know if circuit breakers have a life limit. He
"That's an urban legend"
What's in our oil, how to keep cool (and warm), and lean of peak are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full episode notes below:
Mark flies a 182 and he read on a forum that the reason we've had so much spalling of lifters is because they took zinc out of the oil. Mike said this rumor
"More time to fly, less time to turn wrenches"
In this episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen discuss unnecessary maintenance, lean of peak, and flaming exhausts!
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Mitchell has a Cessna 185 and he's wondering if it's smart to change out the rotocoils on his engine at some pre-determined point in order
"You have a lot of splaining to do"
Gotchas and head-scratchers are the theme this episode, as Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner with a pitted camshaft, an inop instrument, a faulty vacuum line, and ops procedures.
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Full episode notes below:
Mike had two airplanes over the past 10 years with crankshaft pitting
"Mechanics can be ornery sometimes"
How do you fix a fix? Mike, Paul, and Colleen explore STC challenges, including parts, wrong installations, and ADS-B that isn't working.
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Barat has a Cirrus SR22 with an STC air conditioner. The driveshaft recently broke and he’s wondering how to fix it. Some me
Live from Airventure 2025
Mike, Paul, and Colleen are in the hot seat as they answer live audience questions from Airventure 2025.
We'll be back with our regular show next time. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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"That'd be like putting grease on the road"
How to tell the difference between greases? Mike, Paul, and Collen break it down, plus high lean of peak temps, breaking in an engine on an experimental, and composite airframe cracks.
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Full episode notes below:
Mark wants to make sure he’s clear on which grease to use for which
"That's one way to flat spot a tire"
Mike, Paul, and Colleen explain why they almost never set their parking brakes. Plus, valve guide concerns and gotchas on preflight. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full notes below:
William wants to know how Mike, Paul, and Colleen do preflight inspections as A&Ps, and if they look at something that most pilot
"An airplane with no engine is worth nothing"
Oil is everywhere this time, with consumption and temperatures problems for three of our owners. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Mark has a Twin Comanche and is loving his new electronic ignition. He has an issue where oil temperature and CHTs are slightly different on one engine than the o
"You have to cart mogas around like a homeless person"
A Cirrus with fluctuating fuel flow, de-injecting an engine, and fear of overhaul are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Joe has a Maule with a 540 engine in it. The company has a mod to turn the engine to a carbureted version and he’s wondering about the legality
"You have license to go zorching around"
An owner wants to fly his engine after it sat for 7 years. Plus, prop strike at the shop, lean of peak, and break-in trouble. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full episode notes below:
Rupert is having trouble breaking in his new cylinders. They have five hours and the temperatures are still trying to go
"Continentals burn valves and Lycomings stick valves"
Valves are sticking all over as the hosts give advice on how to avoid pulling cylinders.
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Rick has a 182 with a new Pponk engine and he’s burning lots of exhaust valves. He’s wondering what he should change operationally. Paul said to boresco
"My airplane is a flying experiment"
It's all engines all the time this episode. Rusty ones, sticky ones, and one that doesn't burn oil. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full episode notes below:
Ralph had to throw away his relatively new engine. His flying club has a 1968 Cherokee 180. They overhauled their engine, and the first annual looked go
"They put all their maintenance records on napkins"
Chris is trying to make sense of his logbooks. He has a Cessna 172 RG and he and his partners had a few electrical issues recently. Some of the logbook entries went in the airframe book and some went in the engine logbook, and he’s wondering about the decision-making process involved in picking the proper logbook. Mike said there’s no requirements around which
entry to put in which logbook, and in
"Keep torturing those airplanes...and students"
John is a maintenance officer in a club, and he is wondering about tire ply ratings. The manual calls for 4 ply, but they often install 6 ply and he’s wondering if that’s ok. The hosts all agree that they have subbed in higher ply ratings when supply dictates. Paul’s rule of thumb is that he always allows a higher ply, but not lower. That’s because the ply rating relates to the weight of the aircr
"Shame on you for even thinking about it"
Should you trade your aging airplane in anticipation of higher repair costs on your current bird? Mike, Paul, and Colleen have a strong opinion on this. Plus, sticky valves, taking good care of turbos, and engine monitor set-up frustrations.
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Scott has a Tecnam P201
"If that doesn't work you've got the flame thrower option"
Ever wonder how the flap system in a Cessna works? This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen take a deep dive on the system, plus engine vibrations, leaning for high altitude takeoffs and go arounds, and getting bees out of a restoration.
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Ken is experiencing vibrations
"Your airplane is on a full-time IV drip"
Can one high oil pressure reading forever alter your engine? Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this question, plus the quirks of the O-470, compression test redemption, and repairman certificates.
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Everett is wondering if his oil pressure is forever altered. He has a P
"You don’t know if he’s going to hit you with a wrench or a lawsuit"
Should you overhaul an engine based on oil analysis? The hosts answer this question, plus fuel pumps, valve grinding, and a pesky hot cylinder.
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David is worried about the relatively new IO-470 in his Bonanza. His oil analysis history shows a lot of aluminum, and r
"There's a serious brain drain in aviation maintenance"
A 182 mysteriously losses power and the hosts struggle to explain why. Plus, basic engine temperature theory, confusing ADs, and why it's so hard to find good help these days.
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Andrey was flying low and slow on autopilot for a mission when he noticed the airspeed
"Check it, log it, and then relax"
Can you have a prop strike without a prop? This is one of the more unusual questions the hosts have faced. They also track down a carbon monoxide leak, advise on Continental rpm settings, and help an owner who likely had a pre-ignition event.
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Robert is an A&P who i
"There’s a reason they call these amateur built"
How to identify CamGuard in an oil analysis, erratic idles, how to check the oil, and what the wrong prop does to an engine are on tap for the latest episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Tan has a 1968 Piper Arrow 180. He has an erratic idle as the engine warms. Mike and Paul said it sounds
"Don't open up the fuel system if you don't have to"
Clogged injectors, how to care for an engine while training, avoiding costly altimeter checks, and engine design considerations are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Marko’s engine had a strong revving sound on takeoff. He saw that he had an EGT a
"The engine didn't explode"
Mike, Paul, and Colleen sludge through oil pumps that lose prime, skipping an oil filter change, and using the right oil in this Texas tea-themed episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Mike has a Cessna Bird Dog with an oil pump that isn’t cooperating. When he lets the airplane sit for a month or m
"When they go bad the engine is toast"
Lean of peak is causing odd vibrations in a Commander, and the hosts discuss proper troubleshooting. Plus carb heat on the ground, dehydrators, and parts no longer manufactured. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
Full notes below.
Chip said his mechanic is concerned about lean of peak because we don’t know the actual temperature at the valve, as the temperature is taken down
"It goes through cylinders like flapjacks"
Rough idle, electronic ignition basics, airplanes to avoid (or not), and the difference between detonation and pre-ignition are on tap for this episode. Email us at podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full notes below:
Stephen wants to get the engine on his Cessna 206 purring. At idle the engine stumbles down to 600 rpm.
"When it starts to talk to you it's time to replace it"
How do you know when to replace certain parts? They begin to talk to you. Find out what, why, how, and when when Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle this and other questions. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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John is part of a club that owns a Cessna 172. Another member told him he shouldn’t move the ru
"The people who design these airplanes don't work on them"
Metal in the filter, starting problems, and mechanics who don't understand the definition of installed are on tap this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full episode notes below:
Roger has a Mooney M20J that has developed an odd starting problem. Over the past few years he’s had to increase the time the boo
"Full rich is horrendously rich"
An airplane that hasn't flown in 8 years quits when going to full power. A turbocharged Mooney meters out less fuel as it climbs. Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle these questions and many more in this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full notes below
Eric is having trouble with his Aero Commander. The engin
Live from Saturday Airventure 2024
Live from Airventure 2024, we present the first of two sessions. Listen as the audience tries to stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen with its toughest maintenance questions.
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"Mechanics are the surgeons of aviation"
An owner wants his engine perfect for flying around the world, how to start an airplane with electronic ignition, when to fire your mechanic, and defining approved data are on tap for this episode.
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Full show notes below:
Ethan is flying a 182 around the world, an
"I've had grass stains on my prop"
An owner wants to know if he should tear down his engine after harvesting some corn with his prop. Plus, the benefits of flying oversquare, why you should use the boost pump at higher altitudes, and pre-flight procedures.
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Full notes below:
John wants to know if he c
"Placard it inop"
Lots of leaks this episode, as Mike, Paul, and Colleen diagnose a leaky strut, a defroster that's not working, a leaking brake system, and more. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full notes below:
Greg has a Cherokee with a leaky strut. His mechanic suggested pressurizing it with shop air instead o
"Don't pull the throttle back until you want to land"
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen cover the basics. An owner wants to know if he should pull the throttle or propeller first in a climb, another wonders what the ideal power setting is for the run-up. Plus, mis-fueling and tired turbos. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full show notes below:
John has a 210 and wa
"Don't do that!"
This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen tell a flight school owner not to throw away a perfectly good engine. Plus, the origins of the annual inspection, safety wire, and poor engine monitor guidance. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full notes below:
Mike has a Cessna 150 with a bunch of advanced avionics, including
"I have permission to get an airplane."
This episode a perspective owner wonders about the cost of tying down outside. Plus fuel pump problems, major versus minor, and more. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full notes below:
Steve’s primer in his Saratoga sat for a long time and was pumping air when he came back to fly it. He had to track a fitting to ge
"I'm against throwing a part at something"
Is there a limit to how much oil consumption is too much? This episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this important question. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Jim has a Cardinal with 3,000 hours on the engine. Everything looks good, except that the oil consumption has increased substantially. T
"You become the supervisor of your maintenance"
Can you fly a turbocharged airplane lean of peak? Absolutely! This episode, Mike, Paul, and Colleen describe how to do it. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full notes below.
Mike flies a turbo 206 and a 421 and is trying to fly lean of peak but the airplanes are running a bit rough. He wonders if there are tricks
"Don't split the case halves"
A light oil mist on his windscreen has one caller concerned he needs to split the case. Plus, Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle cold cabins, tire changes, and horsepower calculations. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full notes below:
Grant has a Mooney M20F and he’s seeing a light mist of oil on the windscreen after
"This guy is on his own, he's a test pilot"
A Vans customer wonders what to do next, and a 172 pilot asks if carb heat is really necessary all the way to the ground. Plus, the best spark plugs, and a vexing gear issue are on tap for Mike, Paul, and Collen this time. Email podcasts@aopa.org to be on the show.
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Full notes below:
Greg has a kit from Vans on order and he’s wondering
"Let us know how the exorcism goes"
This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner with an engine that randomly dies after 2100 rpm. Plus, the role of avgas as a lubricant, prop governor issues, and getting back into maintenance. Email your question to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full notes below:
Dennis has a Cardinal RG with a prop governor iss
"The breather is a slobber pot"
Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner raise his oil temperatures, explain the rules around ELT battery replacements, debate the merits of a tuned exhaust, and help an owner whose airplane won't quit. Email podcasts@aopa.org for your chance to get on the show.
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Chris has a Super Decathlon with CHTs as low as 270 degre
"Think of the prop control as a gear shift"
This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen debunk myths, describe valves that are eligible for lapping, and cover the basics of the red box and leaning. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Maciej is a new private pilot who is questioning some operational procedures he was taught. He was taught not to pu
"Major and minor is in the eye of the beholder"
With everything going electronic in the cockpit, will owner-produced parts become a thing of the past? Plus, Mike, Paul, and Colleen talk about their least favorite magnetos, deferring maintenance, and more. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full notes below:
Justin owns a Columbia 400 and he’s wondering if he c
"It's not good form to jam the throttle forward"
Why you shouldn't jam the throttle forward launches this episode. Also, Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner with high oil temperature, advise a builder on engine modifications, help ease the mind of an owner with water in his tanks, and discuss how best to use a borescope. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full n
"We call it an Italian tune-up"
Mike, Paul, and Colleen help an owner with a bad lifter that shows itself after oil changes, guide an owner through a change his maintenance schedule, discuss what constitutes damage history, and take a guess at why POH numbers change over model years. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
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Full notes be
"Use whatever time runs the slowest"
Prop hubs that were nearly scrapped, how to properly measure the oil level, semi-synthetic oils, and tachs that don't agree are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
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Full notes below:
Bill has a Cessna 182 with a prop that hadn’t been overhauled for about 7 years and 600 hours. Thi
"You can't fully pickle it"
This episode is all about engines--how to fix one that runs rough, how to save money when buying one, why one went bad so quickly, and how to preserve one during a build. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
Full notes below:
Brendan’s friend has a Taylorcraft with a tricky engine issue. It started with low rpms in flight, and has since been repeated on the ground. The mags hav
"Cleaning injectors causes more problems than it solves"
How far can you go with preventative maintenance? The hosts discuss this, plus oil-soaked plugs, a strange fuel smell, morning sickness, and more. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
Full notes below:
Lamberto has a 152 with oil soaked plugs, and is having to clean them every 25 hours. He wants to fix the problem, not simply deal with it. His mechanic suggests a harsh chemic
"Why don't you just fix the problem?"
How cold is too cold the fly? Mike, Paul, and Colleen answer this question, and help an owner solve radio problems, advise an owner to fix his probes, and describe the process to become an A&P in the latest episode. Send your questions and comments to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
Full notes below:
Chad has a Cirrus and he’s looking for some cold-weather guidance. A mechanic
"It's not the mechanic's job to make flying cheaper"
A compass that works on the ground but not in the air leads to a fun debate between Mike, Paul, and Colleen. Plus, the basics of lean of peak (again), jailbreaking a Rotax, and the liabilities of being a mechanic. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
Full notes below:
Blake flies a Mooney that has a compass with a mind of its own. On the ground it works well, b
"Inspections are an imperfect process"
While one owner has too much of a good thing and lots of shops to choose from, another is second-guessing if the massive check to the cylinder shop was necessary. In this, our first crack at twice-monthly episodes, Mike, Paul, and Colleen spend more time as therapists and counselors than technicians. Submit your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
Full notes below:
Chris
"Don't attack anything with tools"
Did Paul give us the definitive guide on how to hot start an airplane? Try his technique and see what you think. Also, unnecessary cylinder removals, a faulty tach, and a letter writer and guest who question if burping is safe. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
Full notes below:
Walt has a Seneca and has had to replace three cylinders in the last five years.
Live from Airventure 2023
Live from EAA Airventure 2023, check out our second in-person show. The questions come fast, and everything from proper leaning to oil leaks is covered. Can Oshkosh-goers stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen?
Full notes below:
The first question has Colleen in stitches. Can you widen the gap on your spark plugs to get more horsepower from an engine? Short answer? No! Don’t do it, the hosts agree. Even C
"My airplane is so clean you can eat off it"
How to start an airplane, whether or not to wash an airplane for an annual, flying through smoke, and high TITs are all on tap for this grab bag of an episode, as Mike, Paul, and Colleen take your toughest questions. Write to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
Tony owns a turbo Twin Comanche with 300 hours on the engines. He burns about 14 gallons per hour on takeoff, but he thinks
"The only that thing that can cause CHT to rise that fast is pre-ignition"
In two separate but similar incidents, owners want to know whether their cracked spark plug insulators caused pre-ignition or if detonation ruined their plugs. Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle those questions, and many more. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
Full notes below:
Mitch has a Mooney that developed a strong engine vibration a few minutes into a flight. He quickly di
"I'm a total turbocharging bigot"
Paul and Colleen broadcast from Dayton, Ohio, for Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, and together with Mike, do their best to help owners suffering with engine problems, mysterious cold air leaks, improper fuel indications, and more. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
Full notes below:
Jim has a heavily modified Twin Comanche that blows cold air on the back
"Pop that cowling off and squirt away"
A grab bag of unique questions come at Mike, Paul, and Colleen this month, including whether to buy new or overhaul, how prop stops work, what happens when you reduce from wide open throttle, and avoiding tiedowns. Submit your question to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show.
Full notes below:
Dale has a Seneca and he’s looking to the future and having to overhaul two engines. He’s won
"This is a classic infant mortality failure"
With two important airworthiness directives recently issued for Continental engines and Cessna Cardinals and 210s, Mike, Paul, and Colleen dig deep on the surrounding capacity and safety issues. Then they take calls on the limitations of engine monitors, and how normal can look anything but. Submit your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
Full notes below:
Michael has
"The airplane looks like it's having brain surgery"
Mike, Paul, and Colleen debate the difference between a bribe and incentive pricing, discuss how much carbon in the oil filter is too much, counsel an owner how to keep his alternator belt on, and reveal what's in their go-bags. Email podcast@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
Full notes below:
Jim is finding a significant amount of carbon in his oil filter after oil changes on his Cessna
"You may have to go to a different shop"
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen give an owner the ammo he needs to not overhaul his engine prematurely, help console an owner with super hot cylinders--maybe, console another with super cold cylinders, and give cover to a pilot who wants to refill his own oxygen. Send your comments and questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show.
Full show notes below:
Pat’s Diamond has one s
"There are critters living in there"
Did you know things live in jet fuel? These are the fun things you learn being a mechanic. Mike, Paul, and Colleen enlighten us on this strange fact, and tackle questions on leaning, burned exhausts, puddles of oil, and how not to set your airplane on fire when preheating. Email podcasts@aopa.org with your question for a chance to be on the show.
Full notes below:
Chris owns a Piper Comanche with
"You have two options and a top overhaul isn't one of them"
Adam flies a Piper Warrior owned by his friend. On a recent flight he experienced some morning sickness that he was able to resolve. On a subsequent flight the owner had morning sickness as well. The owner is considering a top overhaul. Mike said he has two options, and a top overhaul isn’t one of them. The first is to do a wobble test and the second is to skip the test and go straight to reaming
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