Author Topic: I'm an idjut (Read 609 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** June 26, 2005, 06:18:13 PM »

I went to the airport with my family today to take my son for his first airplane ride.

We went out to the plane and I began my preflight. Everything was going fine until we got to fuel.

On a Cessna, you need to climb up to get at the fill cap atop the wing. On the 152, there's a tiny metal stub on the engine compartment, and another on the strut for the wing. Precariously balancing here (convinced the metal was about to snap), I opened the fuel tank and took the trusty ol' Fuelhawk (imagine a thick, transparent straw with gallons marked on the side) and dipped it into the tank with my thumb on one end. I lifted it out, noted how many gallons were in the right tank. Then, I lost a little balance so I jumped backwards off the plane before I fell. I landed on my feet, steadied myself, then stopped to consider for a moment.

"Where's the fuel stick?" I asked myself. After another moment, I looked up at the open fuel tank and groaned. I climbed up again to see if I had somehow thrown it out onto the plane, but alas... it slipped the surly bonds of my fingers and had dropped into the tank.

"C'mon kids, we're not flying today." I secured the plane, grabbed the keys and we all trooped back to the FBO. I called the owner, and he said he'd be able to fish it out (apparently, I'm not the first person to drop it in, and chances are, I won't be the last, not that that really excuses my fumblefingers). He told me that the screens in the tank would prevent it from causing any trouble and I could still fly if I wanted, but I told him my family was done and we'd fly another day.

Turns out he just got back from 2 weeks of Army duty. I sure wish I coulda welcomed him back with something better then a chore fixing my screwup.

I gotta sell my restaurants so I can buy myself an honest low wing plane that I can check the fuel via the tabs or without doing acrobatics without a net.

Nilsen · « **Reply #1 on:** June 26, 2005, 06:28:59 PM »

That sucks Chairboy, I bet you were as excited to take them up as they were.

I hope you dont mind.. but i had a little snicker too picturing your face as you looked at your empty hand and up at the fueltank

Hangtime · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2005, 06:42:46 PM »

Fer Shame. A poor workman blames the tool.

Quote

gotta sell my restaurants so I can buy myself an honest low wing plane that I can check the fuel via the tabs or without doing acrobatics without a net.

High wing aircraft and ground checks have been around a long, long time. If ya was slightly rushed, didn't have the motions and placements worked out, were worried about oxidized paint rubbing off on your clothes or whatever.. not the planes fault yah dropped the gauge...

If it makes yah feel any better when a friend of mine replaced the tanks on a Citabria he found no less than 4 guages flogging around in the starboard one. There was also a flip fold step ladder in the planes kit.

Bodhi · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2005, 09:22:41 PM »

Chairboy,

Don't feel so bad....

I was doing the preflight on a B-25J we had just finished restoring back in 1995. We (myself and the owner) had run the engines for about an 4 hours total on the ground. So I had climbed up onto the wing to add some oil to the engines while the others added fuel.

Well... I opened the oil (1 gallon containers) over the tank like I always did to prevent spillage on the wing, and set the cap in the recess like I always did and started pouring. Unfortunately, the wind was picking up, and I in my attention to stop the access panel from dancing around flipped the cap up, and low and behold it drops into the tank....

I was furious with myself. I climbed down off the wing and told the owner that owing to my stupidity we would not be going flying today. That preceeded a 10 hour job (my time was free) of removing all the oil, then taking the armored sump covers off, followed by the sumps themselves and then getting the damn cap.

I still have the cap on my desk at work as a reminder of my stupidity.

Do the smart thing, go buy two two inch paint sticks, mark one the same as the fuel marker, then attach a portion of the other to the top of the other stick so it sticks above the wing like a cross, and you will never have that problem again.

BTW, been there done that too!

CyranoAH · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2005, 02:44:16 AM »

Chairboy, don't feel bad. Screw-ups are bound to happen if you fly regularly. The best thing is that it happened while on the ground and, above all, you noticed!!

Worst thing that happened to me was skipping one step in my preflight before an aerobatic flight with a friend. The tanker truck guy had just refuelled the plane and, as usual, he shut and locked the cover.

Tried to move it, "looked ok" (sigh), and off we went.

Test maneouvers: full aileron roll, 2 stops. Hop, 1 stop, ok.. "plop!" off the cover goes. Great...

Due to the design of the aircraft (a Mudry CAP-10B) the fuel remains in place. I nevertheless declare urgency and land.

Fortunately for me, the area where we fly aerobatics is not populated, so no risk of cracking anyone's skull with the cover. I have an interview with the club's security commitee and volunteer to pay for the cover, which stands at some $900.

Again, luck said hello and we found a 2nd hand cover from an Ecureil helicopter which happened to be exactly the same. Price: $90.

Hope this relativizes your screw-up and you realize that was not so bad after all

Daniel

Chairboy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2005, 10:42:41 AM »

I'm not blaming the plane, and I'm not blaming the owner. Twas my fingers, and nobody elses. The reason I mention buying a nice honest low wing plane is actually because, in addition to flight characteristics I prefer, I like the idea of being able to check the fuel without doing my best imitation of a monkey. I can do that just fine when I try to post to this BBS.

I might suggest taping or gluing a straw or something to turn it into a cross, might not be a bad idea. Double benefit, as a cruciform it'll give me something to fight off vampires while taking off during armageddon. Not sure how well the ol' 152 will do against the massed armies of Satan, but flying is all about having options, right?

Chairboy · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2005, 10:57:48 AM »

Well, it'll stop you from doing it more then once, that's for sure.

Maverick · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2005, 12:12:44 PM »

Chairboy,

Welcome to the DOH club. Nope I didn't do that particular trick, I've done others.

As to a low wing bird, I'm sure you are familiar with Cherokees for a starter. Stay away from the 140's and go for a 180 if at all possible. Still not complex with a fixed pitch prop but more horses can't hurt when loading the family inside.

Hangtime · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2005, 12:33:57 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
Not sure how well the ol' 152 will do against the massed armies of Satan, but flying is all about having options, right?

You intended to load FAMILY into a 152? Cripes the damn thing will barely lift 2 guys on a cold day with 1/2 fuel... talk about being on the wrong side of the horsepower curve..

What Mav said.. if yah go Piper, go with the 180 minimum. Only thing I didn't like about the Cherokee was the damn dinky cockpit and the goofy right side door, step on the seat, twist & worm needed to get in it our outta it. Escpecially gave me the willys when considering FAST egress in an emergency.

If yer really thinking about buying, at least get a hop in a 182.. gawd whotta sweet plane. Visbility, Power, Range.. rugged as hell. Tanks are even higher.

Chairboy · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2005, 12:40:40 PM »

Ha! No, not loading the family. Was just going to take my 3 year old son up. The name of the game is Weight & Balance!

I trained in a 1981 PA-28-161, and that'd be just about the perfect plane for me, but finding an IFR equipped, mid range engined one in my price range ($50K) is (while not impossible) tricky. One of many reasons I'm considering a partnership if I can find the right person. I'm going to the next EAA meeting locally to check out some RVs, maybe some guy there wants a partner? That'd be nice, save some money AND get some speed.

Gotta say, not terribly excited about high-winged planes. I really miss being able to see other traffic around me when I fly the Cessna. I'm less concerned about having a wing in the shot when I take a picture of the ground then I am about an unannounced/NORDO plane making a straight in approach when I'm on base at the uncontrolled field I fly out of now.

Also, I've sure enjoy feeling actual ground-effect when landing. I wonder if there's any statistical correlation between hard landings and high/low winged aircraft, especially at night? No matter, I trained in the P28A so it has a special place in my heart.

eagl · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2005, 01:35:37 PM »

In the 152/172 I used to fly, I always used my trusty rusty calibrated index finger. If I could touch the fuel through the filler (assuming reasonably level ground), we had enough for sightseeing. After 50 years of that maybe I'd develop a chemical burn or cancer of the fingertip, but I get more gas on my hands while filling my car than I ever would using my finger as a fuel dipstick. I backed it up with a glance at the fuel gauges while motoring down the flaps.

If weight and balance was such an issue that I absolutely HAD to have less than full or almost full fuel, I either made a conscious pilot-in-command decision to fly it a few pounds overweight if the weather permitted (cool day, no chance of going into wx over mountains, etc) or I adjusted my plans if the risk was too great.

Sometimes utility category is your friend