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Lost an Exhaust valve
- cgbiggs
- ICS member
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:59 pm
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
Great to hear such a positive outcome of good decision making and good FBO service
Patricia Jayne (Pat) Keefer ICS 08899
PA-39 #10 Texas
N3322G- ICS member
- Posts: 1911
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 1:58 pm
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas area
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
- cgbiggs
- ICS member
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:59 pm
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
10,000', solid IFR, until mid Nebraska where we found sun and unlimited VFR for the rest of our 10 day trip. The Aspens were in full color and we flew low level over the ridgetops, enjoying
the vistas, to Durango to spend a day seeing the local sights (highly recommended....we had planned one day and spent two but could have stayed longer).
We launched very early from Durango to catch the sunrise over the monument valley, shiprock peak, painted desert and Lake Powell, all at very low altitudes. It was incredible and only
safe to do in a twin. We stayed the night in Prescott.
Next day we did the early thing again to catch the morning sun on the Grand Canyon, intending to get to Monterey, Cal. for the night. At 6500', about 100' above the granite in SW Arizona,
I heard a loud KAPING on the left side and realized I was holding some right rudder and there was a vibration. MP, RPM, etc. looked normal but #1 had definitely lost power. Sure that it had
swallowed a valve but unsure about shrapnel damage or metal in the oil, I feathered the engine and looked at my options. Hmmmmm. Bull Frog City? How long to get parts there and is there
even a mechanic? This was on Thursday and we were to meet our two sons in LAS on Friday evening. GPS shows LAS 127nm distance so we went there. Landed, went to Millionaire and asked
the mechanic to order a new Lycoming cylinder assembly right now so we can get 10am delivery tomorrow, here's my Visa then we will look at the plane. He did, part came, plane fixed by
Fri. pm,(#4 exhaust valve just as you described) and we left on Sun. pm on schedule after a wonderful weekend with our sons.
You're absolutely right. I love my Twinkie.
Steen
- steen
- ICS member
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:24 am
- Location: Palatine, Il. USA
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
I'm sure this bit of information would come as a great surprise to all the scenic tour operators at Page, the Grand Canyon, etc. who operate nearly exclusively single engine aircraft in part due to the restricted downward vis of a twin.
Don
- 9089P
- ICS member
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 7:01 am
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
Steen
- steen
- ICS member
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:24 am
- Location: Palatine, Il. USA
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
The one common factor on our twinkies is how easy they are to work on the engines. A whole world difference from my Mooney.
- cgbiggs
- ICS member
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:59 pm
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
We live part of the year in Moab. Out of which airport did you fly your tours? Page? As for altitude, it is your friend everywhere, especially where there are few places to improvise a strip. We left Bullfrog one morning for a MV tour, was very glad we were not over any National park and that the #'s weren't painted on the bottom of the wings.
Good luck, Don
- 9089P
- ICS member
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- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 7:01 am
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
- cgbiggs
- ICS member
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:59 pm
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
- cgbiggs
- ICS member
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:59 pm
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
Don
- 9089P
- ICS member
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 7:01 am
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
The bride has family in Saint and we do the flight back and forth from Moab. For grins listen to 122.8. Gotta say that for an uncontrolled airport out in the country Page has a lot of traffic. Have not landed there since the early 80's guessing it has changed a lot. Maybe I'll drop in sometime.
Don
- 9089P
- ICS member
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 7:01 am
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
Steen
- steen
- ICS member
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:24 am
- Location: Palatine, Il. USA
Re: Lost an Exhaust valve
- cgbiggs
- ICS member
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:59 pm