Ask the A&Ps
Experts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling answer your toughest aviation maintenance questions. Submit questions to podcasts@aopa.org. New episodes are released the first and fifteenth of every month.
26
"You don’t know if he’s going to hit you with a...
67 min
27
"There's a serious brain drain in aviation main...
Power loss, how to train technicians, and engine theory
61 min
28
"Check it, log it, and then relax"
A prop strike without a prop, broken rings, carbon monoxide, and Continental rpm advice
74 min
29
"There’s a reason they call these amateur built"
How to check the oil, leaning basics, erratic idles, and oil analysis concerns
57 min
30
"Don't open up the fuel system if you don't hav...
Clogged injectors, altimeter checks, engine design, and being kind to engines
61 min
31
"The engine didn't explode"
Oil pumps, oil ratings, and oil filters
59 min
32
"When they go bad the engine is toast"
Parts no longer available, lean of peak vibrations, and more
60 min
33
"It goes through cylinders like flapjacks"
When things rattle, shake, and go boom
57 min
34
"When it starts to talk to you it's time to rep...
TBO myths, preflight techiques, on-condition maintenance, and lean of peak
55 min
35
"The people who design these airplanes don't wo...
Some problems are easy to fix, if you can reach them
68 min
36
"Full rich is horrendously rich"
Fuel issues dominate, featuring problems with set-up, leaning, and more
66 min
37
Live from Saturday Airventure 2024
A live audience tries to stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen
49 min
38
"Mechanics are the surgeons of aviation"
Cooling issues, getting along with your mechanic, and approved data
71 min
39
"I've had grass stains on my prop"
Engine teardown after a prop strike, preflight procedures, using the boost pump, and oversquare
72 min
40
"Placard it inop"
Leaky struts, leaky brakes, and a leaky defroster
67 min
41
"Don't pull the throttle back until you want to...
64 min
42
"Don't do that!"
Throwing away an engine that's hard to start
63 min
43
"I have permission to get an airplane."
The challenges of tying down, major or minor, fuel pump problems, and more.
62 min
44
"I'm against throwing a part at something"
How much oil burn is too much?
62 min
45
"You become the supervisor of your maintenance"
62 min
46
"Don't split the case halves"
Oil leaks don't always come from the case
59 min
47
"This guy is on his own, he's a test pilot"
The best plugs, advice for a Van's customer, and is carb heat necessary?
63 min
48
"Let us know how the exorcism goes"
Ridding an engine of it's demons
57 min
49
"The breather is a slobber pot"
An engine that won't quit, oil temps, tuned exhausts, and ELT batteries
53 min
50
"Think of the prop control as a gear shift"
Valve lapping, oversquare, and the basics of leaning
50 min