On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 23:32:12 -0500, "Jeff Franks"
wrote:

I talked to someone "in the know". Apparently, what I witnessed was the
final effects of a dipstick (a real one, not the pilot) being put back in a
Piper Aztec the wrong way. I know not of what I speak, but from what I was
told, normally the dipstick will only go in one way. Somehow a ME student
got it back in incorrectly. And the engine promptly ate the dipstick at
rotation.

I don't know why they didn't notice anything during the run-up or even after
startup, but needless to say the engine is in the shop.

Just thought I'd post a follow-up for those of you on the edge of your seat
wondering what was going on. Sounds plausible....I guess.

jf

Man this just does not sound plausible, but I'll admit I don't know
all there is to know about dipsticks.

All the ones I've associated with just end up down in the oil pan no
matter how you insert it. I supposed it might be possible to cross
thread the thing, allowing oil to possibly blow out past it if the
crankcase is also overpressured. But other than that, I can't imagine
how it would be possible to insert a dipstick incorrectly and cause an
engine failure.

If it's that easy to do, you'da thunk the designers would design it so
that couldn't happen.

Corky Scott