Re: Spring thaw
Finally, the weather got out of the 30s & 40s, 20's at night// after last week's frigid frigids (poor bird) and even exceeded the 63 deg forecast.However the flight down to Sid (PHF) Got cancelled due to strong & gusty crosswinds at PHF. So I drove my 63 Riviera (now 31,456 orig mi after Oct drive to RME HS Class of 63 70th BD reunion) to the airport and the wind sock is 45 to straight out --crosswind. And a Piper 200 student Pilot just had a no nose gear landing (3 blade all chewed up-each blade 1/2 original thickness with curled tips); his instructor making the landing. We pulled down the tail and got the nose gear down and Ron in the Skyworld tug took it off the runway. Airport reopened for Ops.
Finally got N112HT preflighted, fueled, and winds still at 14. But needed to fire her up, run it, you all know the drill: Running the enine more important than flying as 'tgePilot 'still current'!
Ad still needed some ops checks
id the GROUND ring terminal on the Zefttronics VR, found loose in Dec after visiting Sid :Was that why I lost charging ? Tightened the screw but screw jammed and ring terminal not fully secured. KnowI need to revisit but so many wires to drill larger hole (young A&P installed). Was OK for 2 hrs but not now.
So engine at 42 deg-ok, but that selector sticky issue after frigids -no biggie meant cranking woukd 'prelube'. Took 4 primes and four cranks and 4 'fire ups' b4 elec pump built up fuel pressure into the green and then 'instant start, instant smooth.
Taxied to the Taxiway. Active 15 so taxied to 33 run up area, did runup, Amp meter was stable charge at 800-1200 rpm but at 2000-2200 wiggled all over the place.
But steady again taxi-in back the 5000ft to Rnwy 15 run up area. Oil pressure now coming down and oil temp at 160, This time run up ok with Ammeter and cross wing more like 12k, so took off. Flew RH 150 down over the Tree Farm at 1400ft (1000 agl), but several Wind sheers. Too bumpy to take clear pics, headed back toward HWY 8NM). Another couple wicked shears.
In the pattern, on Final , needed full Rudder deflection and aireron slip AND STILL COULD NOT KEEP Lined up. At 150ft agl and 1000 ft from Rnwy Gust whipped my Nose 45deg. Was at about 80 IAS. OK Totally focused management -Rudder & ailerons and roller coasting with the gusts , but finally got it down to 3 ft above runway when another gust (tree ljne) got me. Kicked in Full rudder/cut power completely. Dropped straight as stall warning horn went off. Coukd hear Sid s a Ying 'KEEP THE NOSE Gear up. Down solid. Flaps up. Off active.
So Did get oil temp up into the Green for most of the flight, but came down soon as I opened Cowl Flaps. Logged .52 Tach Time. & In front of hanger easy to get TIT per Kelly G < 800deg. 798 at Shutdown.
Good News is N112HT and I did get some activity today.still need to revisit the VR ground wire ring terminal. During flight never saw ammeter below 'hair above' 0, sometimes what I consider 'normal 30 deg' right. Oh and OAT once even said 71.
Was nice to have a' Spring Tease' in just a flannel shift.
