On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 07:37:08 -0500, A Lieberman
wrote:

Fire up the engine, everything running smooth, taxi out to 34R, check
controls, check the L mag, and real rough engine. Check the right mag,
smooth, both setting smooth engine. Thinking hell, something not right,
lean it, try again, no success. Call ground with request to taxi back to
maintenance, 180 on taxiway approved, and shut down. A&P pulls cowling and
sure enough 1 plug wire dangling, and one wire you could see the threads
and it was not tightened down.

This is why I pull the top cowl on my Cherokee 180 after any A&P
maintenance. My A&P does a great job (and I'm yet to find anything),
but you never know. This is also an easy task to do on a 180 - takes
about 1 minute. I know other planes are much more difficult.

I also always make a local area flight after each maintenance. This
flight is within gliding range of the runway at all times.

After that - I never fly in IMC for my first XC out of maintenance.

Perhaps these are over conservative guidelines, but I've read too many
accident reports where the plane was on its 1st flight after
maintenance.