More of what every aircraft owner needs to know about selecting, purchasing,insuring, maintaining, troubleshooting, modifying, and flying light airplanesonAirplane
Mike Busch
E
UM
Ownership VOL
i
Copyright 2020 by Michael D. Busch
All Rights Reserved.
ISBN: 9798619135329
Published in the United States by Savvy Aviator, Inc.
www.SavvyAviator.com
No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy-ing, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976. Requests for permission should be addressed to Savvy Aviator, Inc. via email: permission@SavvyAviator.com.
Cover and interior design by Lynn Stuart.
ii OWNERSHIP VOLUME 2
This book is dedicated to my partner in crime Colleen KellerSterling A&P/IA, who is hands down the best editor Ive everhad the pleasure to work with. Im pretty sure Colleen didntrealize quite what she was getting into when she agreed to serveas my book editor back when I knew her as Colleen Keller
A&P. Never one to let grass grow under her feet, she added
Sterling while editing Ownership Vol.1 and added IA
while editing Vol.2. Enough already, Colleen. If it aint broke,dont fix it.
iii
The creation of this book would not have been possible withoutthe generous support of these patrons:
Century Club
Patrons
Sponsors
Associate Sponsors
Todd Peterson
Robert Brahm
David Barnett
Moreno Aguiari
Michael Silvernagle Darrell Chandler
Tom Bohannon
Allan Beiderman
Haydn Chandler
Robert Borger
Ian Brown
Grand Benefactors
Joe Goebel
Chuck Chamberlin
Stephen Couzelis
Jim Elliott
Beecher R. Gray
Pere Davison
Michael DAngelo
Kevin Hanson
S. Wilford Fares
Steve Drinkwater
Benefactors
John Holman
Stephen G. Floyd
Roger French
Dane Coyle
Martin Jansen
John Michael Guidry Gregg Jackson
Guy Floyd
Brian Kindergan
Floyd Hansen
Steve Jones
Jeff Iskierka
Mark Machowicz
Nick Hatzis
Ryan R. Klems
Gary Mullen
Rodney Morrow
David B. Hill
Rick Lafford
Bob Murray
Scott Hunziker
Julie Lynn
Rodolfo Paiz
Ted Kapka
Christian Meier
Tim Rasmusson
Anthony L. Krause
Don Muncy
James Riggs
Kent Larson
Marcus Sabathil
Adam Smith
Don Mack
Mark Sellers
Phil Steklenski
Randolph McClure
Dwight Small
Eric Westphal
Walter Mercer
Brian Stamper
James Moss
Richard Woodward
Joe Navarro
Jim Yares
David Owen
Tommy Zamberlan
Michael Parks
Kenneth Piller
Darren Schehl
Chris Schuldt
John L. Smith
Barrie Strachan
Noel Wade
Charles G. Walker III
Matt Ward
Jeremy Whelchel
Jeremy Zawodny
V
Vi OWNERSHIP VOLUME 2
Table of Contents
Prologue
....................................................XI Part i: Rules and Regulations
Chapter 1 The Rules of the Game................................. 3
Chapter 2 A Mechanics Signature............................... 25
Chapter 3 What Does Airworthy Mean?..........................31
Chapter 4 FAA Alphabet Soup................................... 39
Chapter 5 By the Book?........................................ 47
Chapter 6 Ferry Permits....................................... 57
Part ii: Owner-Performed Maintenance
Chapter 7 The Most Dangerous Thing In Aviation?.................. 67
Chapter 8 DIY Maintenance..................................... 73
Chapter 9 Owner-Assisted Annuals...............................81
Chapter 10 Building a Toolbox (on a Budget)....................... 87
Chapter 11 Aircraft Owners: Keep Out!............................ 99
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Part iii: Caring for Your Aircraft and its SystemsChapter 12 All About Batteries...................................107
Chapter 13 All About Alternators................................. 119
Chapter 14 Dim the Lights.......................................135
Chapter 15 When Metal Lets Us Down.............................145
Chapter 16 Corrosion..........................................157
Chapter 17 All About Tires.......................................167
Chapter 18 Know Your Oleo...................................... 181
Chapter 19 A Trip to the Prop Shop.............................. 193
Part iV: Troubleshooting Aircraft Problems
Chapter 20 Troubleshooting Basics............................... 211
Chapter 21 Why Didnt I Listen?................................. 227
Chapter 22 Dont WorryThey All Do That....................... 237
Chapter 23 Wheres the Smoking Gun?........................... 243
Part V: Owner/Mechanic Disputes
Chapter 24 Resolving Owner/Mechanic Disputes...................251
Chapter 25 The Blame Game.................................... 257
Chapter 26 Benevolent or Predatory?............................ 265
Chapter 27 You Did What?...................................... 269
Chapter 28 Grand Theft Propeller?.............................. 275
Chapter 29 Blame the Hardware.................................281
Chapter 30 Liticaphobia........................................ 287
Part Vi: Altering Your Aircraft
Chapter 31 Alterations: Major or Minor?.......................... 297
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Chapter 32 Is It Legal to Install?................................ 307
Chapter 33 A Highly Modified Skyhawk........................... 323
Part VII: Flying Safely and Efficiently
Chapter 34 Operating Oversquare............................... 335
Chapter 35 The Danger Zone.....................................341
Chapter 36 The Pilots Brain.................................... 349
Chapter 37 Garbage In, Anxiety Out.............................. 357
Chapter 38 When Instruments Mislead............................371
Chapter 39 Breathing at Altitude................................ 379
Chapter 40 Doing Single-Pilot IFR Better......................... 393
Chapter 41 Treacherous Twin Takeoffs........................... 407
Chapter 42 The Most Unforgivable Sin.............................417
Chapter 43 My $ .02 on $6 .00 Avgas............................. 429
Chapter 44 Flying Efficiently.................................... 435
Chapter 45 CO, Silent Killer..................................... 443
Chapter 46 Yipes! No Green Light!!!.............................. 455
Chapter 47 Pilot's Rights: Do You Have Any?...................... 465
Part Viii: Thoughts on the Future of General Aviation
Chapter 48 The Looming Mechanic Shortage...................... 483
Chapter 49 Is Aging GA a Threat to Safety?........................491
Chapter 50 ADSB: Its About Time!............................... 503
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