Tango

SITREP:

- 23.03.2012 EDFE Apron Hanger 6
- D-EGDG
- No Power

Last week, DG was doubled booked and I had to give way to a flight student. Very disappointing. The FBO called me later in the day and offered 30 minutes free the next time I fly. Alright, no problem.

So when I show up to fly the next week at noon, I am hoping everything will work out. I planned to fly to EDEW to do some touch and goes and on the way back, some basic air work. I am greeted in the office and Mr. Miller (part time help, actually doing his ATPL) suggests that he comes out to the aircraft with me.

We make our way over to Hanger 6, bright sunlight and 20*C, great day for flying. I do the pre-flight and cannot help noticing that Mr. Miller is paying fairly close attention to what I am doing. Fine, whatever. I check the oil and notice that there is less than 4 quarts. According to the POH, minimum is 2, but if the aircraft can take 8, 4 is half and 2 is basically criminal. I ask Mr. M if there is some oil in the locker. No, but there should be some in the back of the plane. No, there is an empty oil bottle in the back. Ok, he suggests that we taxi to the pumps and get some. Better yet, I should finish my pre-flight, and he will go to the pumps and get some oil.

I turn on the master expecting to hear the gyros wind up, but instead I am greeted to the sounds of silence. Hmmmm, battery empty. Get the power cart and crank it. DG starts without problems, but the battery is so empty, that the radio does not work. No radio, no taxi. I shut her down and wait for Miller to return. He shows up (with the wrong oil), I explain the situation, and he is sort of dumbfounded. I had noticed when I entered the cockpit all of the lights switches where on, but the master was out. Since I am a previous owner of a 1973 VW van, I am familiar with shorts in an electrical system that can cause a battery to drain over the course of a few days. Mr. Miller calls his boss to explain the situation. Boss thinks the circuit breaker from the alternator is broken and we should replace it. What? Maybe he thinks that.... I have no idea what that would have to do with the current situation. If during the last flight, the battery was not charging, then I doubt that they could have completed the night flight with radio, lights, etc. and changing a circuit breaker means tearing the panel apart. No, not today. So, we get the power cart out, hook her up and let the motor turn. After a 10 minute idle, the radio starts to work. After 20, I call Apron for departure information.

It really seems as if it is more exciting to get the plane going than the actual flying.
A sad state of affairs...

I fly to EDEW to do some Touch and Goes. There‘s a Robin and a C152 in the circuit so I have to pay some attention. The first landing was way too long; I was at the halfway sign before I touched. Too fast on final. The rest were uneventful. And I was using max flaps this time and I was able to correct for my long flares.

This weekend is chilling with Number One. I wonder what surprises are in store for next week...