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Author Topic: Real life aviation test question  (Read 1642 times)

Offline Habu

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Real life aviation test question
« on: May 17, 2005, 06:02:36 PM »
Today I went flying and something very strange happened. I actually figured it out although the local AME was baffled.

After taking off the following gauges all started to fluctuate quite badly.

The Airspeed indicatior, the VSI, the altimeter, the manifold pressure and the tach.

The needles were swinging back and forth over an arc of 10 minutes on a watch face. The tach was really going crazy moving 30 mins in each swing.

The engine and prop were running smooth and all the engine gauges were fine.

What was wrong with the plane?
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Offline Wolf14

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Real life aviation test question
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2005, 06:08:32 PM »
Vaccuum leak?
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Offline ASTAC

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« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2005, 06:20:07 PM »
Electrical Problem?
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Offline Chairboy

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Real life aviation test question
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2005, 06:40:35 PM »
The ASI, VSI and altimeter are pitot static, so not electrical.  Tach and manifold pressure could be connected, fluctuations in engine pressure can be connected to uneven running engine, but the rest of the gauges and sounds didn't indicate that, based on his description.

Hmm....   I'm thinking....
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Offline Chairboy

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Real life aviation test question
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2005, 06:43:10 PM »
A.....   short in the pitot heater, resulting in intermittent activation?

meh....
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Offline Thrawn

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« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2005, 06:46:54 PM »
Not sure what was wrong with the plane but the pilot should have RTBed instead of flying around for 30mins with his gauges ****ed up.
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Offline Wolf14

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« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2005, 06:54:03 PM »
Doesnt your gages and stuff usualy go berserk right before your abducted by aliens?

In all seriousness though, I know a plane can be flown by feel and outside the cockpit, but I woulda wanted to turn back as well.
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Offline somespam

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« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2005, 06:55:00 PM »
I think he meant the tac was swinging in an arc equivalent to 30 minutes on a watch face, not that he was flying for 30 minutes with screwed up guages.....At least I hope that's what he meant.
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Offline RTR

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« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2005, 07:12:07 PM »
Was this by chance a post maintenance test flight?

Was the pitot static system worked on?

Was the aircraft just washed?

Hard to diagnose without at least a bit of history.

RTR
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Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2005, 07:20:37 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Wolf14
In all seriousness though, I know a plane can be flown by feel and outside the cockpit,  
Ask JFK Jr. for more details about this technique.
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Offline jigsaw

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Re: Real life aviation test question
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2005, 07:21:20 PM »
As RTR pointed out, you didn't give enough information for someone to come up with a  logical answer.  Even basic things like current weather, what kind of tach (analog or digital), what kind of airplane.

Quote
Originally posted by Habu
all the engine gauges were fine.
 


Las time I checked, Tach and Manifold were "engine gauges."

Why would you be asking the opinion of an AME unless it was something related to medication you'd taken, which caused you to halucinate the whole thing?
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Offline Chairboy

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« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2005, 07:22:12 PM »
Maybe he means A&P?
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Offline RTR

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« Reply #12 on: May 17, 2005, 07:24:41 PM »
hehe Jigsaw, an AME  is like an A&P in the states (only better )

A.M.E.  Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

I only used to be able to spell that, but now I are one.

RTR
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Offline jigsaw

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« Reply #13 on: May 17, 2005, 07:27:32 PM »
:lol Thanks for the info RTR. I'll admit the dummy card on that one. Only ever heard it referred to in the medical sense before.
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Offline RTR

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« Reply #14 on: May 17, 2005, 07:30:18 PM »
Well....we are kinda like doctors. Just fussier;)

RTR
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