On 21 May 2006 18:46:21 -0700, "Tony" wrote:
I have landed because of mechanical failures maybe once every 300
hours...
What about those of you with 500 plus hours: what has your experience
been like? Am I just unlucky, or typical?

In the maybe 250 hours in "modern" airplanes, none. In about 350
hours in a 1941 T-Craft, however:
-Engine failure (valve seat came out) on takeoff at about 100', got it
down on the runway with about six inches to spare.
-Precautionary landing on a pier when the full wing tank failed to
feed into the almost empty main tank, with insufficient fuel to cross
the water to the nearest airport. Of course, it started feeding as
soon as I landed so I flew it out the next after MUCH hassle with the
authorities (long story).
-Failure of one magneto, continued to destination.
-Engine failure due to fuel contamination (new fuel truck at the
airport). Landed in a farm field field and only discovered after I
landed that it was an abandoned airport. Flew back out after draining
the sump.
-Throttle cable clevis came loose leaving the engine stuck at cruise
rpm. Landed by blipping the ignition, just like a WWI rotary engine.
-Not a mechanical failure, but I landed in a farm field once when
nature called, then spent about a half hour trying to start the engine
(vapor lock on a very hot summer evening). After near heat exhaustion
from endless hand propping, it finally started and I got home just at
sunset (no electrical system = no lights)

We won't even talk about all the engine failures in ultralights, where
an engine out is usually a non issue.

-Dana.

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