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
"Keep torturing those airplanes...and students"
Shutting down engines, electrical problems, and more
52 min
27
"Shame on you for even thinking about it"
Lead deposits, turbo tips, setting engine monitors, and trading good airplanes
55 min
28
"If that doesn't work you've got the flame thro...
Engine vibrations, getting the bugs out, leaning for takeoff, and flap problems
62 min
29
"Your airplane is on a full-time IV drip"
Oil pressure and temperature issues, compression test benefits
66 min
30
"You don’t know if he’s going to hit you with a...
67 min
31
"There's a serious brain drain in aviation main...
Power loss, how to train technicians, and engine theory
61 min
32
"Check it, log it, and then relax"
A prop strike without a prop, broken rings, carbon monoxide, and Continental rpm advice
74 min
33
"There’s a reason they call these amateur built"
How to check the oil, leaning basics, erratic idles, and oil analysis concerns
57 min
34
"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
35
"The engine didn't explode"
Oil pumps, oil ratings, and oil filters
59 min
36
"When they go bad the engine is toast"
Parts no longer available, lean of peak vibrations, and more
60 min
37
"It goes through cylinders like flapjacks"
When things rattle, shake, and go boom
57 min
38
"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
39
"The people who design these airplanes don't wo...
Some problems are easy to fix, if you can reach them
68 min
40
"Full rich is horrendously rich"
Fuel issues dominate, featuring problems with set-up, leaning, and more
66 min
41
Live from Saturday Airventure 2024
A live audience tries to stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen
49 min
42
"Mechanics are the surgeons of aviation"
Cooling issues, getting along with your mechanic, and approved data
71 min
43
"I've had grass stains on my prop"
Engine teardown after a prop strike, preflight procedures, using the boost pump, and oversquare
72 min
44
"Placard it inop"
Leaky struts, leaky brakes, and a leaky defroster
67 min
45
"Don't pull the throttle back until you want to...
64 min
46
"Don't do that!"
Throwing away an engine that's hard to start
63 min
47
"I have permission to get an airplane."
The challenges of tying down, major or minor, fuel pump problems, and more.
62 min
48
"I'm against throwing a part at something"
How much oil burn is too much?
62 min
49
"You become the supervisor of your maintenance"
62 min
50
"Don't split the case halves"
Oil leaks don't always come from the case
59 min