Emergency landing today Troutdale, OR

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
Tony Cox writes:

Where did you get the impression that GA aircraft were
"terribly prone" to engine problems?

From accident reports.

Which accident reports might these be? Why don't you
give a link to what it is that has you so frightened and no
doubt some kind soul will patiently explain to you why
your interpretation is in error.

What you naively think of as an "engine problem" is more
likely to be pilot error (fuel exhaustion, improper application
of carburetor heat, inadequate preflight), or fuel contamination.
A simple review of the NTSB monthly reports ought to
clue you in that a true "engine problem" is a very rare
event.

Tony Cox wrote:


Actually, the reliability of a properly maintained GA piston
engine is very high. The MTBF is of the order of 10**5 hours,


Hmmm, and I buy lottery tickets
with odds over 14,000,000 to 1,
thinking, "I might win."

Where did you get the impression that GA aircraft were
"terribly prone" to engine problems?

From accident reports.

Actual, unassisted mechanical failures are at the bottom of the list of
causes for accidents, unless you consider things like running out of fuel an
engine problem.

Continued VFR, flying in hazardous weather (thunderstorms), icing, etc., are
at the top.

BDS

Or the absence of air or igition - which are still not an 'engine problem'.
For all that is known at this point there could have a raccoon living in the
air intake, or bad wiring on an aftermarket ignition. Probability is more
likely with fuel, but a 'sputtering' engine could have been a lot of things.

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...
Mxsmanic wrote:
Gig 601XL Builder writes:

I could pretty much guarantee that the average RV is much better
cared for than average 172.

So what do you think really happened? The description in the news
sure sounded like an engine problem.

I have no idea. As post by myself and several others it could be Fuel,
Pilot or Engine. That is assuming that the very short news piece we read
is even close to what really happened.

"BT" wrote in message
...
looks like an RV (Van's Aircraft)
any reports why the engine quit?

None yet. On the news all he said was that it had been sputtering and he
thought he had a better chance of making Troutdale (better emergency
facilities too) then turning back, and that it sputtered out again and died
on approach.

I know the neighborhood, though; one of those new ones with few straight
roads but fortunately the street was pretty wide. Nobody hurt and nothing
but the airplane and a small tree damaged.

-c

wrote in message
oups.com...

True, but the article only mentioned "mechanical problems" and a
"sputtering engine".

That can mean anything and not just a failing engine.

The engine sputtered not long after he left the original airport so he aimed
for Troutdale and hoped he'd make it. (They're only a few minutes apart,
but Sandy is higher elevation and not as well-maintained.)

He said on the news last night that the engine stuttered and then quit as he
was coming into the pattern. Said as sure as he was standing there, God
told him where and how to land. By the look on his face you could tell he
meant it.


-c

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...

gatt, call your local news station and give them an atta'boy for not
saying the engine stalled.

Good point. They didn't! The local media is treating him like a hero. No
word from the neighborhood association yet, but I imagine it's a matter of
hours before they express outrage at the gross irresponsibility of that old
airport operating next to their brand new housing development.

-c

Mxsmanic wrote:
writes:

It looks like you know more than I do.
In what way does this make more sence?

A used aircraft would be more likely to have engine problems, unless
it were perfectly maintained, which is improbable. A new engine
should run perfectly for some reasonable time, irrespective of any
maintenance.



The statistics do not beat that out.

Mxsmanic wrote:


Then many GA engines must be very poorly maintained, because engine
problems figure prominently in GA accidents.

One does not follow from the other.

gatt writes:

He said on the news last night that the engine stuttered and then quit as he
was coming into the pattern. Said as sure as he was standing there, God
told him where and how to land. By the look on his face you could tell he
meant it.

Perhaps God will be able to speak to the NTSB and explain exactly what
happened to that engine.

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