Builder's/Flyer's Log 04/04/2000

Trip to Willapa Bay; engine starting problem

Flight Time: 2.5 hours ... Total Engine Time: 105.4 hours

Build Time: 0.0 hours ... Analysis Time: 0.0 hours

Flew to Astoria and then north to Willapa bay airport to stretch our legs and buy a soda. Upon getting back in the plane the engine wouldn't start. The starter wouldn't do anything; no click as the bendix engages, nothing. Voltage dropped to its usual 8 or so volts, so the solenoid was getting power. Tried various things but couldn't get it to do anything. Eventually a local CFI at the field volunteered to hand-prop the plane. He tried first to do it from behind the prop but couldn't get enough spin and had to move in front of the plane. After a few tries the engine turned over just enough to catch, and we were on our way. So it is possible to hand-prop a warm Subaru through a 2.2:1 reduction drive and with a Carbon fiber 3-blade prop. And thanks to that CFI!

Next Log Entry . . . Previous Log Entry

Back to Log Index

To First Page