Airplane Owner Maintenance - By Dean Showalter
241 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 126 ratingsA podcast devoted to airplane owners and the maintenance of their airplanes.
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Episodes
239 – When Your Perfect Airplane Gets a Prebuy
April 13, 2024 18:06Note: Scroll down to see who I unexpectedly met in Florida this past week! Now for the Prebuy… it was some months ago, and I did a prebuy inspection on a nice airplane on behalf of the buyer. I also became good friends with the owner / seller, for which I was grateful, because sometimes […]
239 – When Your “Perfect” Airplane Gets a Prebuy
April 13, 2024 18:06 - 45 minutes - 45.9 MBNote: Scroll down to see who I unexpectedly met in Florida this past week! Now for the Prebuy… it was some months ago, and I did a prebuy inspection on a nice airplane on behalf of the buyer. I also became good friends with the owner / seller, for which I was grateful, because sometimes […]
238 – Check Ride Thoughts & Piper Door Stop Repair
April 05, 2024 21:07 - 41 minutes - 41.1 MBThis podcast episode includes the following: Here’s a photo of the Piper Cherokee door stop I repaired by installing a new spring, P/N 65730-00. Now the door stop snaps nicely into the open detent, instead of closing on you while you’re getting in or out of the airplane. The post “238 – Check Ride Thoughts […]
237 – Checkride Butterflies!
March 05, 2024 18:39 - 21 minutes - 23.7 MBMy CFII checkride is in three days! Yikes! I’m excited, and I have a few butterflies as well… I just hope they are friendly butterflies 🙂 Today’s podcast episode is about checkrides, and some encouragement for all of us to move forward with whatever that next step is… whether it’s a private pilot certificate, an […]
236 – Spare Parts and Tools to Carry in Your Airplane
February 02, 2024 15:22 - 33 minutes - 33.6 MBCheck out this spare parts case my friend Bill created! Although you might not want to carry that much extra stuff in YOUR airplane, it still might be worth thinking about some items to have in case of emergencies. This podcast episode will include the following: Some feedback from others about spare parts. A story […]
235 – Ugly Propellers and What to Do About Them
October 12, 2023 15:29 - 48 minutes - 50.3 MBThe paint was eroding on the King Air 350 prop blades. After a lot of research for paint and new Hartzell decals, I was ready to begin. Here’s where I bought the prop paint and new Hartzell decals: aerotouchups It was important to NOT get paint on anything other than the prop blades… Finally, after […]
234 – Why the Airplane’s Heater Didn’t Light Last Winter
September 23, 2023 13:40 - 44 minutes - 47.3 MBI’ll get right to it… I think it was because one of the brushes in the heater combustion fan motor was severely worn, and when the motor / combustion fan did not run, the heater did not light. Here’s a comparison of the old brushes and the new brushes I just installed: (The 2 old […]
233 – Mike’s Owner Assisted Annual on His F33A Bonanza
September 08, 2023 11:00 - 38 minutes - 33.3 MBMike Garcia has become a good friend over the past year or so. Recently we completed his annual inspection together, and he really enjoyed working on his airplane while learning more about what’s under the surface! Mike was my guest on the podcast this week, so be sure to listen to the audio for that […]
232 – A Piper, A Pineapple, and a Motorcycle
August 30, 2023 11:51 - 31 minutes - 33.8 MBBe sure to scroll down to see how my Maui Gold Pineapple plant turned out! (It’s been growing in a pot here at our house for a very long time 🙂 Now for this week’s podcast: I had the opportunity to do an annual inspection on Ben’s Piper Comanche, and he sent me this photo […]
231 – Piper Comanche Weird Electrical Problem and Seeping Oil Drain Valve
July 31, 2023 10:10 - 25 minutes - 27.1 MBIn this week’s podcast episode, you’ll hear about: King Air flying. Listener feedback from the last episode on “Phantom Cylinder Cracks.” The latest annual inspection I’m involved in. … and a few other things! I’m in the midst of an annual inspection on a Piper Comanche. I might talk more about this one in a […]
230 “Phantom Cracks” in Airplane Engine Cylinders
July 17, 2023 18:59 - 26 minutes - 28.1 MBDo you think these really are cracks between the spark plug bosses and the fuel injector bosses? (Cirrus SR22 Continental engine.) The owner of a Cirrus SR22 was told by a service center he had 4 cracked cylinders on his engine. However, after taking a closer look and bringing their most experienced technicians together to […]
229 – Cessna 206 Alternator Not Working
July 08, 2023 21:18 - 38 minutes - 40.7 MBThe charging system was not working, but why? There was normal voltage at the alternator field terminal. The field circuit resistance seemed normal as well. But the alternator was not producing the normal 28 volts during operation. Occasionally, it would produce a small amount of output voltage, like 25 or 26 volts, and then drop […]
228 – Saving a Cylinder on Dan & Jeanne’s Bonanza
July 01, 2023 16:34 - 33 minutes - 35.6 MBDan and Jeanne are some of the nicest people you will ever meet, so it’s always a privilege to work on their airplane. It was annual inspection time, and the compression test on cylinder #1 was 25/80. The borescope showed a corresponding reason for the low compression… the exhaust valve had an uneven appearance, indicating […]
227 – Electrical Chaos When the Landing Light was Turned On
June 25, 2023 02:10 - 34 minutes - 38.3 MBThis Bonanza had a problem in the landing light wiring circuit. All kinds of weird things were happening when the light was turned on in flight. You can listen to the podcast audio for more details on this squawk. I removed the induction filter cover and the landing light assembly and inspected the wiring. It […]
226 – Piper Lance Lands at SHD After In-Flight Electrical Failure
June 17, 2023 11:00 - 28 minutes - 29.8 MBIt was a beautiful Tuesday morning at KSHD, and we had the maintenance hangar door open with a good view of the runway. A nice, red and white Piper Lance made a perfect landing on runway 5. As the airplane taxied up to the ramp, I thought, “It would be nice to meet that guy, […]
225 – Obscure ATC Intersection Mystery Solved (It’s UDIYU!)
June 09, 2023 11:10 - 27 minutes - 28 MBAnd the winner is… Ben Moroze! Recently, in podcast episode #223, I asked for help in identifying an ATC intersection we flew over on our way into Dulles Airport, (KIAD) awhile back. I remembered it sounded something like “you-dee-ah” or something similar. Maybe something like “UDIYA” except that’s not it. Well, Ben emailed me after […]
224 – Jim’s Exhaust Valve Rescue on his Cessna 182 Engine
June 02, 2023 11:00 - 21 minutes - 21.5 MBRecently, I received an email from Jim Janaitus, owner of a Cessna 182. He told me the story of lapping an exhaust valve on his engine because the valve showed signs of burning even though the compression was still in the high 60’s. Take a look at the appearance of the valve before lapping: The […]
223 – Piper Cherokee Annual and Other Maintenance Adventures
May 26, 2023 14:13 - 32 minutes - 31.7 MBIn the beginning of this week’s podcast episode, I want to give a big congratulations to my friend, Chris Wieczorek, who recently got his A&P certificate! Listen to the audio to find out how Chris pursued getting his A&P in the midst of being a full time attorney and engineer with a wife and 4 […]
222 – How an Engine Cylinder Went From 25/80 to 75/80!
May 13, 2023 21:36 - 37 minutes - 37.8 MBI inspected another A36 Bonanza recently, and one of the cylinder compressions was too low… lower than the minimum prescribed by Continental using the master orifice tool. I had two options: Option One: Remove the cylinder for repair or replacement. Option Two: Make the exhaust valve seal better and improve the compression result in hopes […]
221 – Maui Adventures in the Air and on the Ground!
April 21, 2023 11:35 - 39 minutes - 39 MBMaui is simply amazing! Maria and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip, and here are some highlights. (And for the aviation maintenance portion of the trip, see the last episode, 220.) So many indescribably beautiful beaches to see: Maria and her new friend, Firmiana, at the Upcountry Farmers Market… the most amazing farmer’s market I’ve ever […]
220 – An Epic Working Vacation to Maui!
April 16, 2023 16:25 - 29 minutes - 29.9 MBWe arrived on Maui the evening of March 27 and were greeted by our friends, John and Leslie Caubble, with a “lei greeting” which is a warm welcome with a beautiful ring of fresh flowers around your neck. We were there to do several things: Connect with our friends, the Caubbles. Work on the flight […]
219 – I Installed New Brake Linings and the Wheel Would Not Turn!
March 24, 2023 02:10 - 28 minutes - 28.9 MBIt took some significant detective work and deciphering to solve this mystery. The brake caliper at the top of the photo was the wrong part number for the A36 Bonanza I was working on. The one at the bottom of the photo is a serviceable one we found on eBay. It was the correct one, […]
218 – Engine Oil was Seeping Out of the Top Cowling
March 17, 2023 11:05 - 24 minutes - 25.9 MBNot long ago, there was an oil leak on the right engine of a Cessna 414. The leak was significant enough to come out the louvers on the top cowling in flight. There was oil all over the rear inboard area of the engine, so the big question was, “Where is the oil leak coming […]
217 – Does Your Magneto Have Any Broken Teeth?
March 10, 2023 11:00 - 26 minutes - 27.2 MBI recently removed a magneto from a Piper Cherokee, and my curiosity about why the magneto had failed got the best of me. I took the mag home, sat down at the kitchen table, put my grandson Spencer on my lap, and took the magneto apart! It was great fun having him help me 🙂 […]
216 – WHY is the alternator not working?!
March 03, 2023 11:00 - 27 minutes - 28.7 MBHere’s the short answer: Worn and contaminated brushes inside the alternator. Check it out: My theory is that the excessive amount of carbon dust from brush wear was causing a short circuit situation between the brushes, and not allowing the field circuit in the alternator rotor to be properly energized for normal operation. Here’s a […]
215 – Vacuum Pump Adventure with Clark, my Airline Captain Friend
February 24, 2023 11:00 - 26 minutes - 27.4 MBClark and his family came to Virginia to visit his mom recently, and on the way up from Florida, the right vacuum pump quit working… as often happens when a vacuum pump quits, the drive shaft had sheared off, saving the engine from catastrophic damage. In times like these, a good question to ask is, […]
214 – An Unacceptably Low Cylinder Compression
February 17, 2023 11:00 - 31 minutes - 32.7 MBThis is a good looking exhaust valve with a nice concentric appearance. However, the compression was very low at 8/80. I lapped the valve, hoping it would improve the compression test result… it only came up to 10/80, and that was after running the engine again and getting it nice and hot. Although the valve […]
213 – Stellar Advice for YOUR Aviation Career
February 10, 2023 11:00 - 16 minutes - 15.9 MBWhere are you RIGHT NOW in your aviation journey? Have you started flight training, but stalled out along the way? Did you finish that instrument rating? How about the commercial certificate, or CFI, or even CFII? Ever dream about getting your A&P? Have you wanted to be an airline pilot for years and years? Did […]
212 – Is Your Airplane’s Battery Too Old?
February 03, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutes - 44.1 MBHow long should the battery last in a small, piston-powered airplane? That’s a great question, and we are talking about it in this week’s podcast episode. Tune in to hear the story behind this 24 volt battery in the photo, as well as the story of another battery, a 12 volt one in a Citabria […]
211 – A Cold Flight in an Aerostar!
January 27, 2023 12:54 - 24 minutes - 25 MBI had an opportunity to fly in an Aerostar the other day… it was going to be a fairly long trip to the destination, with one fuel stop along the way. As we climbed out of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia toward the mountains to the West, we discovered the combustion heater for keeping the […]
210 – Cessna 172 Engine Install / Good ATC Talk
January 20, 2023 11:00 - 34 minutes - 35.9 MBHere are the highlights you’ll find in this podcast episode: My latest assignment at Classic Aviation – Installing the freshly overhauled engine in a Cessna 172 that is almost complete after an extensive rebuild process. Some emails I’ve received from listeners with fun feedback of multiple types. Some listener thoughts about home simulator systems. Some […]
209 – Responses from Airline Pilots, and Finishing a Bonanza Annual
January 13, 2023 11:00 - 24 minutes - 25.4 MBBut first… My friend and podcast listener, Chris Wieczorek, flew into SHD recently and we ate burgers for lunch. It was a win-win. I provided the ground transportation, and he bought lunch! https://oldschoolburgerbus.com/ The conversation was very inspiring to me, and Chris was kind enough to send more feedback later in an email, with some […]
208 – Back in the Maintenance Shop and Off to JFK!
January 05, 2023 15:51 - 47 minutes - 47.2 MBHappy new year friends! In today’s podcast episode, you’ll hear about the following: The airplane I’m currently working on. My recent King Air trip to JFK, and the interesting approach we got that day. A couple listener emails. Thanks for listening… see you in the next episode!
207 – A Fantastic Conversation With My Son Seth!
December 17, 2022 23:19 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBRecently, Seth and I spent part of a weekend at a remote mountain cabin location, and we decided it would be a great time to record a conversation about the career changes both of us have made. I love this conversation, and I hope you enjoy it as well. I’m so proud of my son […]
206 – Thanksgiving, Deer Hunting, and Discount Codes
November 24, 2022 14:25 - 12 minutes - 14.3 MBHappy Thanksgiving everyone! I’ve been deer hunting with my daughter McKenzie this week, and so far, she got a button buck, and I got a doe… she’s trying to get a good supply of venison in her freezer for the winter. Last evening was one of the rare times we didn’t see any deer, but […]
205 – My First Landing at Hannah Field in a Cessna 150
November 02, 2022 02:09 - 30 minutes - 33.1 MBA week and a half ago, I flew a Cessna 150 from KSHD to Hannah Field near Monterey, Virginia in Highland County. It was a Saturday morning coffee-and-donuts fly-in hosted by the owners of the private airstrip, along with our local EAA group. The Shenandoah Valley is full of all kinds of aviation enthusiasts! Thanks […]
204 – FlyRight King Air 350 Simulator Training was Awesome!
October 15, 2022 18:45 - 30 minutes - 31.5 MBIn this podcast episode, I’m sharing my experience of going through the training course for a Type Rating in the King Air 350. FlyRight in Concord, North Carolina was definitely the best choice for this training! Home Page FlyRight is a very professional training center with a family-type feel about it. They specialize in King […]
203 – Dean’s Midlife Aviation Transition!
September 05, 2022 01:40 - 30 minutes - 30.3 MBListen to the audio for this episode to hear what Dean’s been up to recently, and why there have not been many podcast episodes in recent weeks. I’m transitioning out of the maintenance shop and into a flying job, and I’m very excited about the new season in front of me. Feel free to leave […]
202 – Pax River Navy Test Pilot: Trace Bowen
June 15, 2022 02:01 - 50 minutes - 44.4 MBRecently, I had the amazing opportunity to visit NAS Pax River, a United States naval air station located in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay. My friend, Trace Bowen, picked me up in his Cessna 310, flew me to St. Marys Airport, and drove me over to the base for a tour. Up […]
201 – SureFly Ignition Installation
May 14, 2022 20:32 - 38 minutes - 38.8 MBHave you ever seen one of these? It’s a SureFly Ignition Module, or “SIM” for short: I recently had an opportunity to install one on an E33A Bonanza, so I thought I’d do a podcast episode about it. Hopefully you’ll find this information helpful if you’re considering a SureFly, and for me, I find it […]
200 – My Recent Flight Review and Other Adventures
April 09, 2022 12:11 - 24 minutes - 24.5 MBYou guys know I love out-of-the-ordinary things, and my recent flight review definitely qualifies as one of those! First, my good friend and excellent flight instructor worked me over in the ground portion of the flight review. Here are some things we covered: VFR sectional chart information and interpretation. Briefing an IFR approach plate. Working […]
199 – A Bulging Exhaust – Change it, or not?
March 12, 2022 03:14 - 46 minutes - 45 MBI recently inspected a Piper Saratoga, and I found the following condition on the right exhaust collector: Earlier this week, I sent this photo to my email subscribers and asked if they would change this piece of exhaust if it was on their airplane. I received a huge response about this, with a large range […]
198 – Be Careful About In-flight Troubleshooting!
February 25, 2022 17:58 - 19 minutes - 21.2 MBChris Saindon, a podcast listener and owner of a Cessna 172G, contacted me with a different, and important perspective that I had completely overlooked. I recently told of a landing gear light in a Piper Seminole, and how the pilots had done some in-flight troubleshooting when the right gear down light did not illuminate. I’ve […]
197 – When He Put the Gear Up the Right Alternator Quit
February 19, 2022 12:57 - 39 minutes - 39.5 MBThis was what happened recently in a Piper Seneca… and in this episode, we discuss why the alternator quit… it was something I totally was not expecting. After verifying the field connections (power and ground) were good, and the brushes were nearly perfect, I removed the alternator. And here is what I found… watch this […]
196 – Joe’s #5 Cylinder Mystery
January 23, 2022 03:27 - 34 minutes - 33.7 MBThis fuel injector line must have only been attached finger tight when the fuel injectors were reinstalled after cleaning. The engine ran fine at first, but all of a sudden during one engine run, the #5 EGT took a nose dive, and the #5 CHT immediately started dropping off as well. The above photo was […]
195 – Is it Time to Tear That Engine Apart?
December 31, 2021 21:09 - 32 minutes - 31.8 MBWhen an airplane engine is making a small amount of ferrous metal, but the evidence is not totally conclusive, the decision to tear it apart, or not, can be gut-wrenching. Such was the case for the O-540 engine in a turbo Cessna 182RG I’ve been working on at Classic Aviation LLC. But after the owners […]
194 – All About Airplane Prebuys with Adam Sipe
December 10, 2021 17:10 - 59 minutes - 52.6 MBThis episode is a good one! If you’re thinking about buying an airplane, stop right now and listen to this episode, because Adam Sipe can absolutely save you lots of time, money and needless frustration in the process of buying an airplane. He shared so much valuable wisdom in this episode, and I can’t wait […]
193 – How Did this Starter housing Break?
December 04, 2021 16:01 - 31 minutes - 34.1 MBThat’s a good question, and although I don’t have the full story, we will toss around some possibilities in this episode. Thanks to all of you who responded with some really good guesses about the cause. I received responses from 33 people after I sent out that email recently! The prevailing guess about the cause […]
192 – We Always Knew He Had A Screw Loose!
November 20, 2021 21:06 - 21 minutes - 22.7 MBMy good friend, Clark Trobaugh, flew into KSHD this past week, and while he was visiting with his family, I walked over to his airplane on the ramp and noted a few things that needed attention… Here’s the one that prompted Clark’s brother Scott to send me a text that said, “Thanks for looking out […]
191 – A Tale of Two Exhaust Valves
November 14, 2021 01:42 - 21 minutes - 22.5 MBIn this episode, we are talking about two different exhaust valves, both of which showed signs of burning when we looked at them with the borescope. One valve was in the beginning stages of burning, and the other was too far gone. Scroll down for more info and some photos. We also talk a bit […]