Question Flying an Apache

Today was more of "trouble-shooting" on the G2 and we continue to miss. But we have worked through a very complete list of things to check. No dice so far and Insight is now sending us a new harness. We have pretty much checked and cleared everything else. They say they have never seen this kind of issue before. Maybe I should be proud of being so individual??

Anyway, for fun we have started getting some of the other smaller projects done. Here are pics of the cupholders we put in the back seat.
 
This is the back seat on the right.



Left side of rear seat

 

The story here is that the plane originally had a bench back seat. At some point nice "captain's chairs" were installed in back on rails. A very nice upgrade and I find the rear seats very comfortable. However, there was a esthetic issue. The metal posts that the old bench seat attached to were rough and ugly (and painted brown). Really wasn't a good look. So after thinking about it we came up with some brushed stainless steel cupholders designed for hot rods and boats and tried a few. We decided these fit the best. We painted the metal posts flat black and then attached the cupholder to them to help cover them. The flat black helps "hide" the post and the silver is a nice trim color to the gray interior. Oh, and now my back seaters have cup holders!
 

 

I thought I'd try a different perspective angle for a picture. After seeing it I realized it looks like Annie is in Time Out! Basically she is as she still likes being a little difficult. So a little Time Out is appropriate!  At this point we aren't seeing any mechanical issues, just gauges and indicators.

The manifold pressure gauge was an easy fix, just a line that got loosened. It turns out the Turn Co-ordinator gyro just decided to die. After having my mechanic test it and talking to the avionics shop the owner said it fits the pattern for the gyro bearing failure. He initially thought it had to be something else as it was working when we went to his shop and died on the way home. But I think it is just Annie's idea of funny timing. So we will order a new T/C. 

The saga continues on the left G2 CHT. Yesterday we tried several things and while they didn't fix the issue at least we eliminated some more possibilities. At this point it seems the issue is in the wiring harness but we'll see. 

I will get the plane back to the avionics shop for the T/C replacement and have them fix the Hobbs as well as put in my GAD13  (OAT for the G5 display). So at least we'll make a little forward progress on the upgrades as well!

Got in from my 3 day trip last night, barely beating the heavy thunderstorm that was closing in on CLT. Lots of cancelled flights last night! This morning the plan was to go get the Apache and after checking the weather we decided it was a go. We had a nice window in the middle of the day. Low overcast in the morning burning off to scattered clouds by midday. Then in the late aftternoon the forecast was calling for high winds and finally heavy thunderstorms rolling through again. My buddy had planned to fly his club plane but as he was concerned about the winds later in the day he drove. So off we went! I am very blessed to have great friends ready to help out with the logistics for Annie.

The Apache was sitting right where I left it. I got the business part taken care of then started draining fuel. I was concerned that I might have some water in my fuel after sitting out in the rain. But after doing fuel drains twice very carefully I decided we were good to go. Annie lept airborne and seemed happy to be flying again. At this point we have all mechanical issues fixed. We are down to Gauges and Indicators but it's a handful.

New issues, three new issues after being in the avionics shop. None appear very serious. The left manifold pressure gauge is just reading ambient air pressure. That will hopefully be a fast fix to find where the line pulled enough to leak. The autopilot would work and then turn itself off. Not good! But I realized that the Turn Coordinator was going off erratically. Also, after the flight I realized the Hobbs Gauge wasn't working either. The last two most likely are a bad ground. So hopefully not too big of a hunt.

Old issues, the Left CHT is still weird and the Flap Gauge is INOP. Other than that the plane flew fine and I just need to remind Annie to be reliable! 

 
The Pee Dee River is nearby and so the name Pee Dee Avionics. They have two hangars and had 4 planes inside when I was there.

 
Getting Annie ready to fly after her avionics spa treatment

 
I like to fly up at around 8,500 as it tends to give me cooler and smoother rides. Had about a 10 to 15 knots headwind but I didn't mind!

 
Overally the panel is looking great. I want Pee Dee Avionics to "pretty it up" with some paint and fancy lablels later. The altimeters all agree much more closely now. Mode C worked just fine with no complaints from ATC. The #2 comm was working normally again.

 
Annie back in her natural habitat, the hangar at Shelby!
 

Was going to get Apache out of avionics shop today but it is low ceilings and rainy. Didn't seem to be a good idea to get a plane out of avioics work and go right into IFR if you don't have to. So I'm pushing getting the Apache back to Monday or Tuesday as I have work scheduled for the weekend.