ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

I have been flying Airbikes for 16 years. I have a single place I built in 1999 and I built a Tandam with a 582 in 2001 but sold it. It is the blue and white one on the Jordan lake Aero site. That's me stooped down looking at the prop. I went to fly one afternoon. Got down to the hanger and started my preflight. I always stop on the way and get fresh gas, I always fly with fresh gas and put my oil in at the hanger. I have always ran premix. I got to the time where I fill up the plane and a friend came in so we sat down and talked about 30 min. After he left I filled the plane and finished the preflight. I went through my warm up and pulled up to the runway. I put the rpm to 3500 and let it run for another 5 min. I like to get the engine heat soaked before I takeoff. Away I went. I climbed to 1000'  and turned down wind. Pulled power back to 5200 and it went dead.  Still in the pattern no problem hitting the runway. Could have been a lot worse,  When I got down the engine started right back up but I shut it off not to do anymore damage and pushed it back to the hanger and looked a few things over but found nothing. It was getting late so I headed home. All week I thought about it and worked up a list of things I wanted to check. I headed back to the hanger the next week. I went in and set down my flight bag and the first thing I saw was my oil still in the ratio rite sitting on the table. When my friend left the other day, I fuel the plane but never put the oil in. So you guys learn from others mistake and lock your doors when doing your preflight. I am amazed that the engine ran for 15 min before quitting. It gets a new top end. I am also about finished building a Eros that I remodeled from a used 1600R.

Here is a pic of my 16 year old Airbike.

Beautiful looking plane Bill. I too am amazed that the plane ran for 15 minutes before seizing. Where are you located, I have not noticed your posts previously.

Paul Fiebich

I was on the board years ago as Airbikebill. I am in Pelham Alabama a little below Birmingham. When I built these 2 Airbikes Wayne raised the wing up 3" on the fuse for me. Its hard to see in the pic but I installed a Tandam brake lever on the side of the fuse, it has a lot more leverage for the brakes. I am 6' 5" and my head bumped the wing on a standard one. Good to hear from you Paul.

Thanks very much for the post Bill. Live and learn.

Nice AB Bill. I just finished installing my brs on my Airbike at the same location as you. How much did it change your cg.

Monte

I have always been on the nose heavy side. It took me from 13 to 15. I would love to get back a little further but It flies good. The first ones were designed for the 277. With a 447 they are nose heavy unless you move the seat around like Paul did for his 503.

Here is a shot of the other side

Gidday Bill,

Ive been using 2 strokes for over 40 years....25 years in aircraft.

I use jerry cans for refuelling...and use laminated printed tags on my jerry cans...in BOLD......NO OIL. it is held on with a cable tie.

So until I cut the cable tie off after adding oil, I simply dont use the jerry in my my aircraft.

Its a system that works for me....I also wonder how many 2 stroke failures have been blamed in the past by "Brain fade" when the user forgets the oil.

Thankyou for your story, I too am surprised that it took 15 mins to do damage...and Im very Glad you made it down safely

cheers Arthur

There had to be some premixed fuel left in the tank to last that long.
We should be very carefull with interruptions while working on the plane, this time was the fuel mix, could also be loose nut a missing part, etc.

Thanks Bill my ab has a 503 and noticed it had a heavy elevator while flying. I guess the previous owner didn't mind but I like a light tail with the cg at the aft end of the range. My routine with the fuel/oil thing is when I empty my 5 gal jug I immediately add the oil even if I don't fill it up with fuel. As to your 15 min flight I'm guessing your tanks were not completely when you filled up and gave you a very light oil mix. Are you going to do a top end or a complete overhaul?

Monte

I went ahead and tore the engine completely down to look at it. The crank is still great so it needed just a top end. I restore motorcycles for a living so I do all my machine work. I have a vapor blaster so I can make the cases look new and I can powdercoat the shrouds. That's why that one looks good after 16 years. That BRS started out as a softpack. I never liked the look of it plus It was still too lite. When it came time for a repack I got them to pack it in a canister for me. That added 2 more pounds. The only time I install a BRS is when I need it for the CG. My Tandem with the 582 was perfect so it never got a BRS. I hate adding dead weight, at least the BRS is useful. I went ahead while I'm building my Eros and set it up for one but I hope I don't need it, I don't normally fly with one.

I'm with you on the brs. I never installed one on my max-103 because my altitude rarely would allow full deployment but it will provide tail weight.

Monte