Shutdown checklist ?

[Phil Perry]

Interesting day today,. . . . . got a phone call from a friend who required rescuing from a farm strip which he couldn't fly out of, as his aeroplane had "Died" ( his words )

 

This call came in at around 2 this afternoon, just after I'd been having a look and commenting on a couple of RF threads. . . .

 

My mate, let's call him Tony,. . ( because that's his name ) said that he'd landed a C-172 at a private strip in South Derbyshire, and now he needed a lift back home, to just up the road from where we both live.

 

I like this bloke a lot,. . .whilst not a commercial pilot, he's got over five thousand hours on all sorts of aircraft, and does a bit of buy/sell in the aviation sphere, flying all over europe in a lot of different aircraft. . . .. I've never known him to do anything remotely silly before, but today he altered my general opinion of him and his "apparent" abilities in one fell swoop . . . .

 

He had landed at around eight thirty this morning, at this private farm strip,. . .and gone off to do some business, along with an associate who picked him up in a car. . . . OK, no problem with that. However,. . .he had evidently. . . forgotten to complete his shutdown checks . . .(?)

 

He had switched off the beacon, but forgotten the strobes,. . .THEN . . . he had left the battery master switch ON,. . and since he had used the landing lights as well ( In the DAYTIME ? ? ? at a FARM strip. . .? ) . . . .these items managed to flatten the battery during the five and a half hours that he was away.

 

I said, "Ok, so what did you do ?". . .he says, "My mate the farmer put it on a fast charger."

 

I said,. . ."Ok, so what's the problem ?" . . .he says. . ."well, when I reinstalled the battery and tried to crank the engine up,. . .a S**tload of smoke came out from under the panel, and also from the cowling . . . and I had to shut it down and evacuate. . . . the cabin still smells like a lot of melted wires. . . ."

 

I said. . ."Oh dear" . . .I have always thought that "Tony" was a goodish pilot,. . .but he said to me today, something I will remember till the day I die. . . . ."Look,. . . I fly the damn things, but I'm buggered if I know what makes them work. . . ."

 

I still cannot believe what I heard this day from a guy I've known for many years and with whom I've shared sarcastic stories about flight appliance operators who seem have not a clue what they are doing. . . . .

 

A sobering thought on the eve of my 65th birthday,. . .( looks at watch ) GEEZ . . .another 24 minutes, and I'm a bloody old age pensioner. . . .

 

 

[turboplanner]

One of my major screw ups came from a pilot who hadn't correctly done his shut down checks; he didn't turn the fuel off.

 

I jumped in, turned the tap as I always did, and luckily enough with Moorabbin being so big, the engine died during taxy.

 

I still see pilots who just "flick the switches off from the left" etc.

 

 

[Phil Perry]

One of my major screw ups came from a pilot who hadn't correctly done his shut down checks; he didn't turn the fuel off.I jumped in, turned the tap as I always did, and luckily enough with Moorabbin being so big, the engine died during taxy.

I still see pilots who just "flick the switches off from the left" etc.

One of my instructors ( who worked at Moorabbin as well as Casey field Berwick. . . ) Dave Squirrell,. . .had this habit when doing C-172 conversions,. . . .he'd turn off the fuel and see how far you went without checking it. . . .usually, at Moorabbin,. . .not far. . . . He also often distracted pilots and turned it off in flight,. . . to see how quickly you would react, and check the vital things before calling "Oh my god,. . .It's the first of May. . . " on the radio. . . . Not so easy a trick with a PA28, the fuel selector being on the left hand sidewall. . . . . ah,. . .fond memories ( again ) thanks for the reminder. . . .

 

I realise you are referring to shutdown checks,. . .but all these little instructor tricks are a very good aide memoire for your future survival. . . ( nine minutes left and I'm officially 65. . . .) Lookong forward to saying to young students at the local airfield. . ."Course IN MY DAY. . . .things were alot more difficult. . ."

 

 

[Head in the clouds]

The best 'Is the Master Off?' trick I was taught during my comm training, and which saved my skin on a couple of occasions, was to never turn off the beacon except while cranking the engine. Then make a policy of always turning around for a look at the aircraft while walking away from it after 'parking'. That quick inspection is used for a few things - check tie-downs, exhaust & pitot covers etc, blade ties (in the case of a helicopter) ... and while you're doing that you'd be bound to notice the beacon flashing away if the Master was still on.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHIL PERRY!!!!

 

 

[SDQDI]

Well congrats on the Birthday Phil, nearly need a thread on its own for that:wink:

 

Well it sounds like he at least did his downwind checks in as much as turning on his landing lights ect.

 

Now for my confessions......... Maybe 12 months ago I left my master key in/on, I hadn't left anything else on but it was a week or so between flights and had a deadish battery when I needed it next. (It nearly did the job but a Jump start was required )

 

I've found if changing the circumstances or order that you do a checklist you have to be EXTREMELY careful to make sure you have it all right, all my training was from airports but when flying from home I do my runups moving (generally a lap down and back on the strip) which I changed to be the last thing I did instead of in the middle. So when I was first swapping between flying from a strip and an airport I had a couple of instances where I caught myself missing things as I was doing my checklists differently for both. My solution has been to do my farm checklist everywhere, and that has worked well for me.

 

Speaking of missing things, and I don't want to put people off flying with me, just the other day I was doing a few laps from the airport to home by myself for a couple then with my wife for one in the middle. On my last one (I had been stopping and shutting down each time as a friend was there and I was organising stuff, hence the toing and froing) I did all my checks again and took off, doing my after takeoff checks I could see I was down about 200 rpm from what I normally get. So I shallowed my climb a little and did a quick scan of gauges and switches and lo and behold I was only running on one mag. Now I can definitely remember checking the mags and watching the rev drop and recovery so I'm fairly sure I bumped it moving my phone off the dash before takeoff but it was just another reminder for me of how careful we need to be.

 

Ok now I feel better getting it all off my chest lol

 

 

[Phil Perry]

AAAAAHHHHHHHH you just too nice. . . . . . .and just to think,. . .you were the first forum member to greet me when I joined up all those years ago . . . .? then gave me a bolloxing for what I said about Helen brookes boobs,. . . .ah,. . .memories. . . .

 

Thank you SIR. . . .I don't actually FEEL any different though. . . . . .!

 

Phil

 

 

[Phil Perry]

The best 'Is the Master Off?' trick I was taught during my comm training, and which saved my skin on a couple of occasions, was to never turn off the beacon except while cranking the engine. Then make a policy of always turning around for a look at the aircraft while walking away from it after 'parking'. That quick inspection is used for a few things - check tie-downs, exhaust & pitot covers etc, blade ties (in the case of a helicopter) ... and while you're doing that you'd be bound to notice the beacon flashing away if the Master was still on.HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHIL PERRY!!!!

That is what I can't understand about Tony's problem,. . .he walked away from his aeroplane, with the strobes still running and Ldg lights on. . . . .must've been in a right hurry,. . ANYWAY,. . .I had a phone call around ten minutes ago, and his battery is knackered, as (HE says) the farmer charged it back to front ( ? ) a sealed lead acid battery charged reverse polarity,. . .not being a battery mogul,. . .is this possible,. . .must be something to explain the burnt out electrics on the Cessna, and apparently,. . .IT'S BAD. . . . . ( edited to add) VERY VERY BAD, . . .the aircraft has got to be disassembled and removed by road,. . . . the Aero electrician said, it's a complete rewire job. . . . .[additional text just recieved ] . . .) I hope the bloke has got plenty of money / insurance. . . . ie, non LAME removing and recharging a battery is not allowed, and he's admitted it. . .oops. . . .

 

 

[facthunter]

Brainfade moments or advancing age. Who knows? When you do things a different way (or sequence) you are setting yourself up for disaster. By the way, you are supposed to put your beacon on before starting engines, and if would be assumed if you turned it off you had shut town.. This is more appropriate to night ops.

 

Flying is not very forgiving of errors That is the nature of it. On the ground you might get away with it because you are not in the critical environment.

 

Happy 65 th Phil. Don't kid yourself you are old YET You might just be neglected and abused. Looks aren't everything..Nev

 

 

[facthunter]

Was it charged backwards or installed backwards? Maybe the second as it would be destroyed charging it backwards at a high rate. I doubt it would accept much, charged in reverse either. Nev

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Brainfade moments or advancing age. Who knows? When you do things a different way (or sequence) you are setting yourself up for disaster. By the way, you are supposed to put your beacon on before starting engines, and if would be assumed if you turned it off you had shut town.. This is more appropriate to night ops.Flying is not very forgiving of errors That is the nature of it. On the ground you might get away with it because you are not in the critical environment.

Happy 65 th Phil. Don't kid yourself you are old YET You might just be neglected and abused. Looks aren't everything..Nev

Looks aren't everything Nev. . . ? ? ? Used to be, . . .when I was young, nubile rock and roll star in OZ in the early seventies sir. . . . . . . even the missus said I wasn't bad,. . .but now. . . . . .well,. . .we won't go there

 

Was it charged backwards or installed backwards? Maybe the second as it would be destroyed charging it backwards at a high rate. I doubt it would accept much, charged in reverse either. Nev

[Phil Perry]

Was it charged backwards or installed backwards? Maybe the second as it would be destroyed charging it backwards at a high rate. I doubt it would accept much, charged in reverse either. Nev

I really don't know the answwer to that one NEV,. . . I DO know a fair bit about NiCd batteries, and the later Nickel Metal Hydride types, . . .but the idea of backwards charging an SLA battery, I have not encountered before,. . .can't see how it's possible. . . .it's been so long since I've looked under the cowling on a 172, that I cannot really comment sensibly as to whether you could accidentally fit one backwards,. . .I know that the PA28 Warrior I used to fly very regularly ( becuse it was super cheap ! ) had the battery behind the back seats,. . . because most of the time, the battery was flat, and I had a set of jump leads made, which were approx 15 feet long to reach from my van, over the wing and ito the rear so that we could go flying sometime that day. . . I wouldn't like to be in a pub quiz and guess where it is in a 172,. . .I probably knew once upon a time,. . .but when you get to my age. . . . . . . ( ! ) ( I still remember where to find one in a DC3. . . .! ) but that doesn't count here. . . . ( 36 types,. . .and master of none. . .! ! ! ! ) And, although I HAVE done it on a couple of occasions,. . .I really DON'T like hand propping cessnas and pipers. . . . .

 

Unless they are REALLY Ancient cessnas and pipers. . . .! !

 

 

[facthunter]

I know from the selfies how stunningly good looking you were in your youth and can imagine what an effect women throwing them selves at you would have had over time.. Glad it didn't happen to me. Nev

 

 

[facthunter]

I got burned installing one DOWN THE BACK with a metal watchband that earthed ( still got the scar). I'm not going to bet my house, but it's my recollection.. Nev

 

 

[Phil Perry]

I got burned installing one DOWN THE BACK with a metal watchband that earthed ( still got the scar). I'm not going to bet my house, but it's my recollection.. Nev

I'll bow to your recollections Nev,. . . .I really can't remember ever having a problem with a battery on ANY Cessna type, and I've flown quite a lot of them, . . .( not for bragging rights ? just info ) 140, 150,/152, 170, 175, 180, 182, 210 . . .310, and 402. ( too hard to handprop twins. . .! ) I know,. . .I know,. . .handprop the critical engine first, then charge the system. . .didah didah didah. . . . !! ( *** EDITED TO ADD. . .*** Blimey,. . .forgot the one I flew the most in OZ. . .the one seven two. . .. how could I have forgotten that,. . .must be me age. . . . . .a bit daft since that was the one the thread is about. . .silly old bugger !

 

*** Edited again to add***

 

I was thinking ( last year ) about starting a thread about what sort of types have you flown,. . .but in the end, I decied that this could be taken by a lot of people as sort of "Bragging" . . .rather than just being interesting. . .so I didn't.

 

But if someone else does. . .that's another story. At least I can claim that I've mastered NONE of them !

 

 

[facthunter]

Six cylinder engines or geared ones are harder to swing by hand. If you are fiddling with engine starting in an abnormal way, keep you exit available would be a consideration, if you are running for a while on one. Nev

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Six cylinder engines or geared ones are harder to swing by hand. If you are fiddling with engine starting in an abnormal way, keep you exit available would be a consideration, if you are running for a while on one. Nev

Darned dangerous way to get an engine running,. . . OK in some sort of emergency I suppose, but I'd rather not try, for reasons you have already covered.

 

Great for older aircraft,. . .a freind of mine is selling an Aeronca which was actually present on site three days following the D-DAy landings in Normandy. . . .it's done up in all the regailia, I think I've posted photos on it a c ouple of years ago. . . .he's flogging it for around fifteen grand ( £ ) and it can be flown in the UK on a doctors signature medical, level with an HGV driver med,. . . . and it has LSA performance with regard to short fields etc,. . . . he's purchased another similar beast, and can't afford to run both.. . .I'm trying to get a syndicate together to buy and run it but thus far,. . .no interest. . . shame really. . . . .beautiful aeroplane. . . . ( looking for pics,. . .can't find where I've stuffed em. . . . .)

 

I'll have a look around the hard disks tomorrow after I've opened me packets of socks, undies, old spice aftershave and . . . bottle of vodka. . . . .and gotten over the fact that I'm no longer a working member of society. . . . .

 

 

[facthunter]

Probably an ancestor of the Citabria I had. It was built by American Champion who I think took over Aeronca. Have to look it all up. Nev

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Probably an ancestor of the Citabria I had. It was built by American Champion who I think took over Aeronca. Have to look it all up. Nev

I'll make an effort and forward his email to you Nev,. . .rather than bore everyone on here with it,. . . it's got all the specs and a really good history to it. .I've got the photos somewhere. . . . . on a dvd or cd or a stick. . . .!

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Happy birthday Phil. At least you have put that silly Beatles song behind you. Though there is one on the radio here which goes " I will love you until I'm seventy". Probably seems reasonable to the twenties set, but not enough commitment for me I'm afraid. Be reassured, I wake up each morning hoping that Phil has posted something new and amusing while I slept.

 

 

[gandalph]

Best birthday wishes Phil from one amiable old fart to another.

 

 

[Phil Perry]

Forwarded Dave's email to you Nev,. . . . will look for the pictures in the morning. . . not trying to flog it to you, but the history is interesting anyway.

 

Phil

 

 

[Phil Perry]

AAHHHHH what a nice load of people. . . . .I'm touched.

 

However,. . .don't go rubbishing my mates the Beatles,. . .I learned to play a guitar thanks to their easy to read sheet music ! ! ! ! !

 

Lot of good it did me granted. . . . . . . the old song "When I'm sixty four. . ." is too late now. . . .! ! ! Bugger.

 

what about. . . ."Yesterday. . . . . .G A aircraft were so nice to Flay. . .dum dum dum. . . . now it looks as though they've gorn away. . .the rules. . .make them. . .to dear to play. . . . . ." dum dum dum ( Sorry Mr. McCartney,. . .couldn't help myself. . . . ( that's sung in F major by the way ) bloody difficult chords when you've got a touch of gout in your left hand. . . .

 

 

[Yenn]

Happy birthday young Phil. One of the advantages of losing the good looks of youth is that you can demolish the twelve foot fence round the house that is to keep the adoring chicks out. Mine went a few years ago when I found the only chicks were feathered ones.

 

 

[facthunter]

The real chick magnet is money. They are genetically wired to seek the most successful sleek male to make babies with and have a secure future. Having a fast red Ferrari is a bit of an indication of success. It is not that they are interested in cars.

 

Beware when they find out they have made the wrong choice. They won't blame themselves . They will blame you. Nev

 

 

[red750]

Many happy returns young fella. You can claim to be old when your age starts with a 7. Even then you're only as old as you feel. There are moves here to have the pension qualifying age lifted to 70.