Dual Vac (Pressure) failure in IMC, Night, yikes.

I think I just got my money's worth of the Beech Proficient Pilot Program.
(BPPP)

Last week, 3 of us where trying to get to Kissimmee from TN but Florida was
closed off due to a line of severe thundershowers across the state. Waited
in Waycross (great FBO, btw) then set off at 9pm into the night with XM
weather and a storm scope. Most of the stuff had dissipated but we did have
to do an end around some the remnants. During one of the trips thru the
clouds, the Gyro warning light came on and I looked over to see Zero
pressure. No prob. just hit the backup Standby Gyro and keep going. 5
minutes later, the light came back one and we had the same reading. What
are the chances? Went the rest of the way (better weather ahead rather than
behind) partial panel with both AI's covered up.

Next day, in Orlando (Southern Aviation), we found both pumps had sheared
shafts. Engine mounted because it was old (500+ hrs) and the electric
motor-driven backup due to lack of use.

Now that the horse is out of the barn, I'm going to exercise the backup
before starting from time to time and change pumps at 500 hours. Also,
keep the partial panel skills up. BTW: The idiot light (Gyro Warning) is a
great investment, if you don't have one.

FWIW, {|;-)

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.
CP-ASEL

Victor J. Osborne, Jr. wrote:
Last week, 3 of us where trying to get to Kissimmee from TN but Florida was
closed off due to a line of severe thundershowers across the state. Waited
in Waycross (great FBO, btw) then set off at 9pm into the night with XM
weather and a storm scope. Most of the stuff had dissipated but we did have
to do an end around some the remnants. During one of the trips thru the
clouds, the Gyro warning light came on and I looked over to see Zero
pressure. No prob. just hit the backup Standby Gyro and keep going. 5
minutes later, the light came back one and we had the same reading. What
are the chances? Went the rest of the way (better weather ahead rather than
behind) partial panel with both AI's covered up.


The last time I had an instrument failure, I lost my primary AI on takeoff from
Cincinnati in the middle of the night. My instrument scan then went from my
side of the panel to glances at the AI on the copilot's panel. This was in a
C-402B... I was glad to have it (the second panel)but it was really no big deal.
I might have had a different attitude (pardon the pun) about it if the air had
been rough.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

"Victor J. Osborne, Jr." wrote:

I think I just got my money's worth of the Beech Proficient Pilot Program.
(BPPP)
snip

Excellent outcome, Victor. I have yet to take a BPPP but it is on my list
this year.


--
Peter

Glad to hear about the good outcome. Given the dual vacuum failure, have you
considered getting an electric AI instead? Sporty's backup received good
reviews and it's cheap.

Marco Leon

"Victor J. Osborne, Jr." wrote in message
...
I think I just got my money's worth of the Beech Proficient Pilot Program.
(BPPP)

Last week, 3 of us where trying to get to Kissimmee from TN but Florida
was
closed off due to a line of severe thundershowers across the state.
Waited
in Waycross (great FBO, btw) then set off at 9pm into the night with XM
weather and a storm scope. Most of the stuff had dissipated but we did
have
to do an end around some the remnants. During one of the trips thru the
clouds, the Gyro warning light came on and I looked over to see Zero
pressure. No prob. just hit the backup Standby Gyro and keep going. 5
minutes later, the light came back one and we had the same reading. What
are the chances? Went the rest of the way (better weather ahead rather
than
behind) partial panel with both AI's covered up.

Next day, in Orlando (Southern Aviation), we found both pumps had sheared
shafts. Engine mounted because it was old (500+ hrs) and the electric
motor-driven backup due to lack of use.

Now that the horse is out of the barn, I'm going to exercise the backup
before starting from time to time and change pumps at 500 hours. Also,
keep the partial panel skills up. BTW: The idiot light (Gyro Warning) is
a
great investment, if you don't have one.

FWIW, {|;-)

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.
CP-ASEL





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Testing the Beech electrically driven back-up pneumatic pump
is part of the take-off check list, the pump should be run
for a minute on every flight and not allowed to sit idle and
freeze solid.

But that Sporty's backup looks very good, almost like the
models used in the jets, except the jet units have a
built-in battery that will run nothing else, but keep the
gyro erect for at least 30 minutes after everything else has
died.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"Marco Leon" mmleon(at)yahoo.com wrote in message
...
| Glad to hear about the good outcome. Given the dual vacuum
failure, have you
| considered getting an electric AI instead? Sporty's backup
received good
| reviews and it's cheap.
|
| Marco Leon
|
| "Victor J. Osborne, Jr." wrote in
message
| ...
| I think I just got my money's worth of the Beech
Proficient Pilot Program.
| (BPPP)
|
| Last week, 3 of us where trying to get to Kissimmee from
TN but Florida
| was
| closed off due to a line of severe thundershowers across
the state.
| Waited
| in Waycross (great FBO, btw) then set off at 9pm into
the night with XM
| weather and a storm scope. Most of the stuff had
dissipated but we did
| have
| to do an end around some the remnants. During one of
the trips thru the
| clouds, the Gyro warning light came on and I looked over
to see Zero
| pressure. No prob. just hit the backup Standby Gyro and
keep going. 5
| minutes later, the light came back one and we had the
same reading. What
| are the chances? Went the rest of the way (better
weather ahead rather
| than
| behind) partial panel with both AI's covered up.
|
| Next day, in Orlando (Southern Aviation), we found both
pumps had sheared
| shafts. Engine mounted because it was old (500+ hrs)
and the electric
| motor-driven backup due to lack of use.
|
| Now that the horse is out of the barn, I'm going to
exercise the backup
| before starting from time to time and change pumps at
500 hours. Also,
| keep the partial panel skills up. BTW: The idiot light
(Gyro Warning) is
| a
| great investment, if you don't have one.
|
| FWIW, {|;-)
|
| Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.
| CP-ASEL
|
|
|
|
|
| Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
| ----------------------------------------------------------
| ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
| ----------------------------------------------------------
| http://www.usenet.com

Thanks for the account. Nice job and outcome.

I only have the manifold vac backup but always thought the idiot light
was probably worth the price of the whole affair. In fact, flying
without a light seems a bit crazy - actual backup is gravy.

Victor J. Osborne, Jr. wrote:
I think I just got my money's worth of the Beech Proficient Pilot Program.
(BPPP)

Last week, 3 of us where trying to get to Kissimmee from TN but Florida was
closed off due to a line of severe thundershowers across the state. Waited
in Waycross (great FBO, btw) then set off at 9pm into the night with XM
weather and a storm scope. Most of the stuff had dissipated but we did have
to do an end around some the remnants. During one of the trips thru the
clouds, the Gyro warning light came on and I looked over to see Zero
pressure. No prob. just hit the backup Standby Gyro and keep going. 5
minutes later, the light came back one and we had the same reading. What
are the chances? Went the rest of the way (better weather ahead rather than
behind) partial panel with both AI's covered up.

Next day, in Orlando (Southern Aviation), we found both pumps had sheared
shafts. Engine mounted because it was old (500+ hrs) and the electric
motor-driven backup due to lack of use.

Now that the horse is out of the barn, I'm going to exercise the backup
before starting from time to time and change pumps at 500 hours. Also,
keep the partial panel skills up. BTW: The idiot light (Gyro Warning) is a
great investment, if you don't have one.

FWIW, {|;-)

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.
CP-ASEL

Yes, I have one on order. They're on backorder.

Thx, {|;-)

Victor J. (Jim) Osborne, Jr.

have you considered getting an electric AI instead? Sporty's backup
received good
reviews and it's cheap.

Marco Leon

Jim Macklin wrote:

But that Sporty's backup looks very good, almost like the
models used in the jets, except the jet units have a
built-in battery that will run nothing else, but keep the
gyro erect for at least 30 minutes after everything else has
died.


An electric with a backup battery is available for us. I believe that it is
manufactured by Mid-Continental.

- Andrew