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Ask the A&Ps

Ask the A&Ps

AOPA 109 Episodes Oct 1, 2026

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

"They will find you"
"They will find you" Oct 1, 2026 3462 The right oil temp, inop and new equipment, and oily turbos are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Grace’s engine runs rough above about 2,000 rpm. She currently has a single probe monitor, and is waiting to install a more comprehensive engine monitor. She’s wor
"Be careful what you ask for"
"Be careful what you ask for" Sep 16, 2026 3809 A caller wants to know what they don't teach you in A&P school. Plus AD compliance, a scary engine failure, and putting the lean in lean of peak. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join KC wonders why ADs appear on some logbook entries as having been complied with with a terminating action, and in future entries the
Live from AirVenture 2026, Session 2
Live from AirVenture 2026, Session 2 Sep 1, 2026 2239 Join Mike, Paul, and Colleen for a second live session from EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh 2026 as they are try to answer the audience's most pressing maintenance questions. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join
Live from AirVenture 2026
Live from AirVenture 2026 Aug 15, 2026 1892 Join Mike, Paul, and Colleen as they take questions live from the audience at the AOPA tent at EAA AirVenture 2026.
"We're in the twenty-first century here folks"
"We're in the twenty-first century here folks" Aug 1, 2026 2726 Which oil is best, where is the oil going, running lean of peak with a carb, and how to fly a turbo are on tap for this episode. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Chris' American Champion Super Decathlon has an oil consumption issue. While his engine was apart after a prop strike the c
"Your mechanic feels worse than you do"
"Your mechanic feels worse than you do" Jul 15, 2026 2922 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. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: 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"
"It's in your head" Jul 1, 2026 3168 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. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: 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"
"I always try to buy high and sell low" Jun 15, 2026 2952 Carbon monoxide, kickbacks, avionics upgrades, and leaning radials are on tap. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to be on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: 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"
"Too much data is a bad thing" Jun 1, 2026 3030 Worn intake valves, pitted camshafts, shock cooling, and AD compliance are on the docket. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: 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"
"TBO is not a reason to do anything to an engine" May 15, 2026 3463 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. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join
"If you lose a cylinder in your Cessna 150 you are down on a road somewhere"
"If you lose a cylinder in your Cessna 150 you are down on a road somewhere" May 1, 2026 3033 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. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: 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?"
"Am I doing anything evil?" Apr 15, 2026 3449 Avoiding maintenance can be a good thing when what's recommended is unnecessary. Email podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full notes below: 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

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