Our mid trip rest stop.
Dolly and I are on the way North, and stopped for the night at a motel run by University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. It’s the nicest “Motel” I have visited, and less expensive than Hampton Inns.
On a quiet and rainy Sunday afternoon.
An Encounter with the Sheriff’s Department
EAA chapter 791 today held its monthly meeting at the Pasco County (Florida) Sheriff’s helicopter hangar. We had a wonderful two hour session touring the hangar and the adjoining parking yard for the emergency response (SWAT and other) vehicles.
The Department has four operational jet ranger helicopters on a staggered 100/200/300 hour maintenance schedule, plus two other JRs that are scavenged for parts. They have one civilian mechanic who handles everything other than instrument repairs.
All of the helicopters were military surplus and have been rebuilt, renovated, reconditioned and painted by the County. Several were previously used by the Columbian military.
The chairs were full during the Chapter meeting and a follow on presentation by one of the officer/pilots.
We heard a story about the time this officer while on a SWAT team support flight was repeatedly hit by a red laser beam – ground patrols were all tied – he set the helicopter down in a parking lot – ran five blocks and caught the perp. He could identify the person as the helicopters have FLIR (infrared cameras) and the pilots wear night vision goggles.
Then we watched a video (Click to see it on YouTube) that shows the performance of the FLIR camera. It is so sensitive that if a person spends time standing next to a wall and then moves on, the camera can read the heat that was transfered from the person to the wall. Similarly, automobile exhausts leave a heated trail on the ground showing their direction of travel, even on hot nights.
Finally, we toured the emergency response vehicle parking yard. The vehicle electrical systems are plugged in all the time. The department also has a large command system truck that keeps its air conditioner running while stored here awaiting a call.
I was Impressed that several of the vehicles and a canine training building were donated to the Department by an individual citizen and a community leadership association. Others were acquired from the military at nominal cost.
Knitting
Click here to see more of Dolly’s projects on Ravelry where her ID is dollyBambas.
Dolly has been crafting for more years than she cares to admit, and has switched back and forth among crocheting, tatting, sewing, macramé and cross stitch to name a few of her favorites. Right now, she is revisiting knitting and enjoying every minute of time spent with her needles and yarn.
For about a year, she focused on beaded lace shawls and is currently exploring the joy of socks. Lacey socks, cabled socks, socks with stranded colorwork: they all appeal to her. But Plane Jane socks she finds boring! Averaging a couple pair of socks a month, she usually has two or three pair on needles at a time, switching back and forth between them as the mood strikes.
Knitting is a skill that takes time and practice to learn. Over the years, many a project has been ripped out to start over or just totally abandoned and found its final resting place in the trash bin. It is all part of the learning process. The Internet allows her to explore new techniques easily. Looking for ways to expand her skills, Dolly is currently discovering different ways to turn a heel in socks. Amazingly enough, she has found more than 5 different methods! She is also improving her stranded knitting (designs knit with two or more colors at a time.)
Dolly belongs to a local knitting group where she enjoys companionship with other people who love making things with sticks and string. The group knits and crochets sweaters throughout the year and sends them to Knit for Kids (http://knitforkids.org) a charity that provides sweaters for children around the world. Dolly knits a sweater to donate about every 6 – 8 weeks. She is also a member of Ravelry, an online community for people who knit, crochet, weave and/or spin yarn.
Click here to see more of Dolly’s projects on Ravelry where her ID is dollyBambas.
Today at the Airport
The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1298 held a rally for Young Eagles. The EAA Young Eagles program offers free airplane rides to children ages 7 through 17. For many this is their first airplane ride, particularly in two to six seat General Aviation planes. In addition to the rides the kids receive a logbook signed by their pilot, and vouchers for an online private pilot course from Sporty’s Pilot Shop.
Dolly and I worked with other members who arrived early to be part of the ground crew. We are members of three EAA chapters, two in Florida and one in Michigan.
Paul Bryant built his Lightning ten years ago. N82PB is registered as an AB or Amateur Built Aircraft. The Lightning cruises around 150 miles per hour.
I have no photo of Tom Longo’s aircraft. He made several flights today in N137JM his Vans RV9A, another Amateur Built Aircraft.
Five pilot members had their planes ready on the ramp and taxiways outside the EAA hangar. The pilots donate their time, aircraft and fuel to give the youngsters their first small airplane ride.
An hour before the visitors arrive the pilots hold a briefing session where they agree on flight routes and review communications and other procedures necessary for safe operations.
While they wait for their flight the visitors are invited to look around the EAA hangar and watch a video from EAA national. The photo on the right shows the fuselage of a Vans RV10 that is being built by one of the chapter members.
Many parents bring cameras to Young Eagle events to record the children’s reactions following their flight.
The Ground Crew members register the children, escort them to the aircraft and introduce them to their pilot. The pilots spend some time giving a preflight briefing and describing what to expect on the flight.
Pizza!
We’re Baaaaaack
Downhill From Here?
On Friday November 11th N50KB had its first engine run.
November 17, 2017
Wednesday morning I started the engine with the intention of taxiing to check the brakes. It ran rough and was shut down. The #4 cylinder was cold. Inspection showed valve movement was OK and another start was made. The engine again ran rough for less than a minute and was shut down. Instruments (Garmin G3X) showed the #4 CHT and EGT rose only to 150 and 205 degrees while the other cylinder temperatures appeared normal. An overly lean condition was suspected. The #4 fuel injection restrictor was inspected and blown clean with air.
The FSDO inspector arrived and was told of the day’s activity. I agreed to a suggestion we do an engine start. During the start sequence the #4 EGT was seen to rise rapidly and then decline. Other cylinder temperatures were normal. The airworthiness inspection was terminated. During post run discussion a fuel flow test and plug sparking test were suggested.
Fuel Flow Test
The fuel distribution test collected avgas from the four injector lines while the fuel boost pump was running. This photo shows the results.
From left to right the cups contain the fuel for cylinders 1,2,3 and 4. The overly lean condition of cylinder #4 is obvious. There was likely a problem in the AVstat fuel distributor on the top of the engine.
Plug Sparking Test
The plugs were removed and their cases connected to engine ground by safety wire. With the master and ignition switches on, the propeller was rotated by hand. Sparks were observed from the plugs connected to the left E-MAG. The plugs connected to the right E-MAG did not spark.
Brad at E-MAG Ignitions was contacted by phone. He led us through several levels of tests that at end indicated the right E-MAG was operating OK. He then asked me to remove the right E-MAG. I was to verify the magneto shaft is engaging the drive gear in the engine accessory case.
I removed the E-MAG. It’s shaft and gear look OK. I then reached into the accessory case to feel the drive gear. This is what my fingers found. A broken magneto drive gear in a factory new Lycoming YIO-360-M1B engine that ran a total of less than 1.1 hours, with over an hour of that time on the factory dynamometer.
The following Monday began a week of phone calls and emails with several levels of the Lycoming warranty organization. Dolly had returned to Florida and before driving south I proceeded to pickle the engine with fogging oil and desiccator plugs for the winter.
Eventually Lycoming agreed to send a packing crate and pay to airfreight the engine back to the factory. Dolly and I drove back to Michigan where I spent several days removing the engine from the plane and with help from friends preparing the shipment. 
I took many photos of the process. The engine arrived in Williamsport, PA on January 2nd. 
September 1 – November 16, 2017
Could not yet see the light at the end of the RV7 build, but knew it was getting closer. The list of accomplishments in the interim included:
- Fastening the fuel tank “break away” tabs to the fuselage on each side.
- Fabricating and installing the short fuel vent lines and connecting fuel supply lines between the wing and the fuselage
Fuel Vent and Supply Lines - Making up brake lines with Berringer fittings to go from the firewall down to the wheel brakes.
- Filling the brake calipers and lines up from the bleader valves to the reservoirs over the master cylinders
- Final fastening the PAX baggage floor and PAX seat pan to underlying ribs with machine screws. This and other tasks may sound simple, however I found them to take significant time.
- Finished wiring the flap motor and position sensor
Flap Drive Motor - Installing a quick drain valve on the left front oil sump drain.
- Installing Clasic Aero aileron push-rod boots to seal out cold air.
- Installing SCAT tubes from NACA air scoops to the instrument panel outlets
- Timing of the PMags
- Fitting the cylinder baffles and using the “Paper clip” method to trim the baffles 1/2″ from the cowl
Paper Clips on the Engine Baffles - Fitting the oil cooler to the right rear engine baffle; doing the install and connecting oil lines
Oil Cooler Mounted - Cuting and glassing the engine air intake snorkle between the air filter and the fuel servo
Installed Wire Guide - Installing the ignition wire protectors that I designed last winter
Left Wing inspection port - Closing up the six inspection ports in the wing bottom skins
- Installing an alternate air door into the snorkle with control from the instrument panel
- Installing all interior cover panels, baggage rear wall and pilot seat pan
Blue RTV Engine to Baffle Seal - Sealing the engine to baffle gaps with Blue RTV
- Installing wing to fuselage faring strips
- Installing seat belts
Whew, and that’s not all.
The Vans upper and lower cowl halves had to be trimmed to fit each other and the fuselage firewall. For October 30th we had a Halloween Lantern.
The cowl interiors were painted with three coats of white two-part epoxy.
I copied the practice of many Vans builders and cut an inspection port into the upper skin in front of the canopy. This provides access to the break fluid reservoirs, the voltage reservoirs and the forward sockets of the VPX power box.
Another deviation from the Vans standard is that I fabricated and installed a plenum cover over the top of the engine, rather than the usual flexible baffle strips that seal the baffles to the top cowl.
The potential advantages of a plenum in cooling efficiency and reduced wear on the cowl have been often debated on the Vans Airforce website forums. Casting of the plenum was discussed in an earlier post.
Clay risers were set on the plenum to verify 1/2″ clearance from the cowl.
Aluminum and fiberglass edges were set with platenuts for fastening to the engine baffles.
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Catto Propeller The Catto three blade wood/carbon fiberglass propeller was installed. Specifications:
- 68″ diameter
- 74″ Pitch
- Nickle leading edges
- Design RPM 2750
- Red Line RPM 3300
Prior to first engine start start the fuel tanks were calibrated and a weight and balance prepared. Both of these steps will be repeated as the W&B indicates a heavier spinner ‘crush plate’ will be needed to move the center of gravity further forward.
Lycoming Service Bulletin No.632
While we were in Oshkosh, WI for the annual EAA convention, Lycoming announced a manditory service bulletin for about 1300 engines that had been manufactured in 2016, plus all engines that had been overhauled with new piston rods around that time. Our engine serial number was one of those listed. The inspection involved purchasing and using a special tool to find those connecting rods that may have looser than specified bearings in their upper ends.
An FAA Airworthiness Inspector friend who once owned an aircraft engine overhaul shop helped me get the job done.
The photo shows the tool (a big coil spring attached to the #4 cylinder’s rod. If the bearing starts to slide out when the spring is compressed by six turns of its inner bolt, it fails. We were lucky all four rods passed. Note the red cylinder base o-rings that are used to keep the connecting rods from flopping around during the disassembly. The S/B was just a PITA that slowed progress by three days.