Question for Paul McBride, the General Aviation News engines expert: I have an engine that will backfire between idle and 1200 rpm. It runs great after that with plenty of power.
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What’s causing the yo-yo oil temperatures in my Archer?
Sometimes it’s the simple things that cause you the most trouble.
Monotony, fatigue bad combination for ag pilot
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application
flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.
Discovery flight ends in crash
Probable Cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his delayed decision to initiate a go-around.
Mechanic’s failure leads to oil starvation
Probable Cause: The mechanic’s failure to properly secure the oil suction screen plug during recent maintenance, which resulted in an oil leak and subsequent loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
Hard landing breaks plane, injures two
Probable Cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare and hard landing, which resulted in the left axle fracturing from bending overstress.
Stall fatal for two
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Human Factors: Hidden wear and tear
When a pilot crashes his new plane on the same day he bought it, NTSB investigators discovered the smoking gun for the accident was a part that pilots can’t see during a preflight.
Broken crankshaft gear leads to crash
Probable Cause: The total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the crankshaft accessory drive gear.