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.

Leisure
Education
How To
76
"Only a CFI would ask a question like that"
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen dive into questions about valve failures, tracking engine times, aging engine accessories, and worrying cylinder head temperatures. Plus, a question that could only come from an instructor. Full notes below: John is...
50 min
77
"Compression readings are garbage"
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle everything from radio gremlins to the big questions of aviation, such as an overall maintenance philosophy and the reliability of our aircraft.  Send your questions to for a chance to get on the show....
61 min
78
"Why can't we do something simple like clone an...
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle questions big and small. A pilot wonders why aircraft engines are so expensive, a young student knows there must be a better way to clean an airplane, and owners tackle concerns over increasing compressions,...
49 min
79
"There's no free lunch in aviation"
Broken rocker arms, metal shards in the valve cover, and oil in the cylinder, oh my. This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen focus on listener engine problems, give some guidance on mods for an experimental builder, and bust an oversquare myth. Submit your...
43 min
80
"An oil filter inspection is non-invasive, unle...
A savvy owner wonders how to trust her airplane with no logbooks, a Cessna pilot is curious if he's getting all the power he paid for, and Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle an unruly governor. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org
49 min
81
"About the half the time, reported cracked cyli...
This episode Mike, Paul, and Colleen debate shock cooling, help an owner set his stall warning tab, debunk unapproved equipment myths, give an owner advice on breaking in new cylinders, and more. Submit your questions to podcasts@aopa.org
50 min
82
"Heavy detonation is normally a self-correcting...
This month owners look to settle arguments with their mechanics over tire wear and avionics glitches, one pilot tries to determine myth from reality on keeping fuel tanks topped off, a pilot learns his oil pressure problem isn't a problem, and Mike,...
42 min
83
"I don't see anything that makes me want to att...
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen cover the basics of oil analysis, corrosion proofing, fuel selector play, how to pick an overhaul shop, and prop people. Send questions to podcasts@aopa.org.
53 min
84
'If it moves, squirt it with something'
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen tackle a number of questions about oil. Where it should be, where it shouldn't be, and why it isn't where you last added it. Plus, a jet pilot is grounded by tires. 
46 min
85
'We just saved your engine'
This month Mike, Paul, and Colleen delve into must versus should. Must you open all those inspection ports, is the prop and governor overhaul mandatory, and should one owner retorque his cylinder after a re-installation mistake? Send your questions to...
49 min
86
"Did you float the dog?"
This month Mike, Colleen, and Paul revisit sticky valves, diagnose shimmy dampers, give a bit of career advice, and talk about what right looks right on throttle response. Plus, silly pilot tricks with animals! Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org
55 min
87
'I went to the church of lean of peak'
Mike, Paul, and Colleen talk about why lean of peak is so beneficial. Also, the hosts tackle questions on sticky valves, how to properly break in an engine, oil consumption, and more. 
43 min
88
'You're not going to fall out of the sky becaus...
Snake oil, cranky turbochargers, oil issues, camshaft rust, and more in this month's episode. Plus, a new owner tries to stump Mike, Paul, and Colleen on propeller rpm checks. 
54 min
89
"You're never in a situation where the IA can h...
Corroded control cables, the right oil for engine break in, pesky fouled plugs, and just how far can you push back on your annual. Paul, Mike, and Colleen handle all these topics and more in this month's episode. 
56 min
90
I'm upside down and there's no oil in my engine!
Checking an airplane for aerobatics, engine failures due to oil starvation, mysterious airplane vibrations, and why replacing cylinders could be a bad idea. Mike, Paul, and Colleen handle these topics and more in this month's episode.
34 min
91
Introducing Ask the A&Ps
New from AOPA, it's a podcast featuring you, the pilot and aircraft owner. Experts Mike Busch, Paul New, and Colleen Sterling answer your aviation maintenance questions. Subscribe today to catch all the episodes.
1 min