Capt Doug
BRAVO !!! I have often asked some of my students if they would fly an
airplane when they KNEW something was wrong with it.The answer was
always a resounding NOOOOoooo.
Then in their aviation history they are faced with something similar to
the Navajo you describe. I don't know how many aircraft I've been
tasked to fly that were like that.
In my 45 years of professional aviation around the world, and now
pushing 23,000 hours logged, I've had one accident that injured
someone. A student on a dual XC with a C-150 back in 1966. We had
contaminated fuel and junk in the fuel lines. Engine puked at night
over trees. We both got hurt.
I've been called as an expert witness in agricultural aircraft
operation crashes and was appalled at the sloppy field work by whoever
did the investigations...both FAA and NTSB. I got the impression if it
wasn't a major news event with lots of press coverage, the "C" team was
sent to investigate.
Back in my earlier days I too was labeled a cowboy or renegade. That
has morphed into more like..."That old guy knows his sh*& and if you
can get some dual with him take it."
Now I am smart enough to wait to see all the facts before I make a
judgement and even then sometimes I elect to keep my conclusions to
myself. That holds true here as well. I never realized I could strike
such a nerve with my original post and I'm glad I did.
Best Professional Regards
Rocky