Mystery Solved

A couple of months ago, I posted in here about seeing a light twin climbing
out of our local airport with only one prop turning. They were ~200ft when
I saw them and they maintained a straight course and barely climbing as I
watched them go out of site. I never knew what was going on (Misguided
training, Actual emergency, what was it???).....until today:

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

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

"Jeff Franks" wrote in message Sounds plausible....I guess.

Having owned Aztecs, this scenario is not very plausible.

D.

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.

Having flown Aztecs for several years, I don't think this could be true. The
dipstick is very easy to secure.

Oh well, I was an easy sucker it seems. Change title to "Mystery ongoing"
and I'll post a follow-up when I talk to someone who really is in the know


thanks for the replies.

jf


"Jeff Franks" wrote in message
...
A couple of months ago, I posted in here about seeing a light twin
climbing
out of our local airport with only one prop turning. They were ~200ft
when
I saw them and they maintained a straight course and barely climbing as I
watched them go out of site. I never knew what was going on (Misguided
training, Actual emergency, what was it???).....until today:

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