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
"There’s a reason they call these amateur built"
How to check the oil, leaning basics, erratic idles, and oil analysis concerns
57 min
27
"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
28
"The engine didn't explode"
Oil pumps, oil ratings, and oil filters
59 min
29
"When they go bad the engine is toast"
Parts no longer available, lean of peak vibrations, and more
60 min
30
"It goes through cylinders like flapjacks"
When things rattle, shake, and go boom
57 min
31
"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
32
"The people who design these airplanes don't wo...
Some problems are easy to fix, if you can reach them
68 min
33
"Full rich is horrendously rich"
Fuel issues dominate, featuring problems with set-up, leaning, and more
66 min
34
Live from Saturday Airventure 2024
A live audience tries to stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen
49 min
35
"Mechanics are the surgeons of aviation"
Cooling issues, getting along with your mechanic, and approved data
71 min
36
"I've had grass stains on my prop"
Engine teardown after a prop strike, preflight procedures, using the boost pump, and oversquare
72 min
37
"Placard it inop"
Leaky struts, leaky brakes, and a leaky defroster
67 min
38
"Don't pull the throttle back until you want to...
64 min
39
"Don't do that!"
Throwing away an engine that's hard to start
63 min
40
"I have permission to get an airplane."
The challenges of tying down, major or minor, fuel pump problems, and more.
62 min
41
"I'm against throwing a part at something"
How much oil burn is too much?
62 min
42
"You become the supervisor of your maintenance"
62 min
43
"Don't split the case halves"
Oil leaks don't always come from the case
59 min
44
"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
45
"Let us know how the exorcism goes"
Ridding an engine of it's demons
57 min
46
"The breather is a slobber pot"
An engine that won't quit, oil temps, tuned exhausts, and ELT batteries
53 min
47
"Think of the prop control as a gear shift"
Valve lapping, oversquare, and the basics of leaning
50 min
48
"Major and minor is in the eye of the beholder"
Can you make your own electronic components? The experts discuss.
59 min
49
"It's not good form to jam the throttle forward"
How to use a borescope, best throttle practices, and keeping water out of the tanks
58 min
50
"We call it an Italian tune-up"
Valve clatter, damage history that isn't, why POH numbers change, and more
54 min