NIPPER TIPS

[G-NIPR]

Hello again all,
Flew NIPR today on a beautifully cold crisp afternoon, and had a lovely trip.
After landing I thought about the little hints and tips that we could all pass to each other about our choice of
aerial conveyance.
I'm sure we all know the need to lift the tail after parking to relieve the stress on the undercarriage bungees, but
do you have any other tips we should know....?

Here is another one of mine to start you off. After shutdown I always pull the carb heat lever to close the entrance to the
carb intake, and hopefully minimise nesting opportunities for passing insects. I know of one light aircraft lost due to a thorax of a fly
getting into the float chamber (some how!).

Another quick (and probably obvious one!) is to do a dead cut check of the mags/ignition system just after starting and before taxiing out,
this would show up a dead system before you get to the holding point (for those of us who operate from airports not strips). A stopped engine at the hold would be mighty embarassing with an EZY or similar breathing down your neck as you push clear!
A luton Minor ( I think ) was lost at Barton a couple of years ago when the pilot got out to restart it at the hold after the engine stopped
before lining up. The subsequent start was led to a high power runaway and the aircraft actually getting airborne (briefly) without anyone onboard. Anyone who has been to Barton will know that it could have been horrendous had it not crashed onto the airfield, but into the city of Manchester!

Over to you...

Seasons greetings,

Paul.
G-NIPR.

[Neil Spooner]

Hi Paul,

I am sorry I have not contributed to this subject before now.

What can I contribute? Not much I think!

I have the Leburg system on mine, after engine start I check both the battery voltages with the alternator off-line and then on-line to check battery capacity before any problem is masked by the alternator charging them.

Obviously I have my little drum I bang about Flat spinning and Aero's with a rearward CofG. Just to recap Flat spin recovery:
Opposite rudder FULL
With turn aileron FULL
Forward of neutral elevator
To accelerate recovery the use of FULL engine power is suggested.
The control inputs should be applied sequentially and positively.

Good luck and Happy landings.

Neil