10/07/06 I took my sister flying for the first time. I rented a 152 and we flew to Sikeston, Missouri (KSIK) where we were to have lunch at Lambert's. You may have been there? They are well known for hurling rolls across the room to customers. I showed up in my pink outfit and the restaurant made a short announcement about the event I was participating in, "The Ninety-Nines Fly for Breast Cancer Cure".
Anyway, just before our destination was a class C airport (KCGI). I didn't want to break the airspace so I went off course to the right to avoid it, however, that move caused me to pass up my destination. I called for vectoring. We landed and my sister was quite amazed at me (her little sister) and how professional I flew. It was nerve racking being her first time with me, however, my demeanor helped make her feel more relaxed. I tried to keep her involved by having her find checkpoints and various other landmarks. I could see her taking deep breaths, so, I knew she was nervous.
Anyway, just before our destination was a class C airport (KCGI). I didn't want to break the airspace so I went off course to the right to avoid it, however, that move caused me to pass up my destination. I called for vectoring. We landed and my sister was quite amazed at me (her little sister) and how professional I flew. It was nerve racking being her first time with me, however, my demeanor helped make her feel more relaxed. I tried to keep her involved by having her find checkpoints and various other landmarks. I could see her taking deep breaths, so, I knew she was nervous.
Not sure why, though, she seemed a bit more nervous heading back. She asked if it was necessary that we fly so high. I told her "altitude is your friend and if for any reason we would need to glide somewhere, we would be able to glide farther being higher."
We were tooling along at 6500 ft. The plane was pleasantly trimmed out, gages were all reading normal, checkpoints were appearing on time. Then, I noticed a slight power reduction as if someone was tugging on the throttle and pushing it back in. My first instinct was to look for an airport or landing spot. It just so happened our next checkpoint was an airport. It was the same airport we didn't see flying to Sikeston at 5500 feet. I don't know if we could see it this time because we were higher or because we were on course, or both. At any rate, it was reassuring I had it in site right when I felt the tug. I didn't say any thing to my sister. She was nervous already and I could see she didn't notice anything different. At first, I headed right for the airport. I contemplated on getting back on track because my course was to take me between class "D" and under "B", but,...........there it was again. I wasn't imagining things. I definitely felt loss of power. I definitely heard loss of power. What's baffling was the gages didn't read as such. RPM's remained at 2300. Oil pressure and temperatures were in the green. Suction was working. Magnetos checked normal. Fuel tanks were filled before leaving.
My sister asked, "Aren't we supposed to be going that way?" as she pointed north and looked at the map. I calmly responded, "No, we're going to land." Again, the loss of power reared it's ugly head, only my sister felt it that time. I tuned in to 7600 (as opposed to 7700 duh... a bit frazzled was I?). For the life of me, I couldn't think of the radio frequency 121.5. I found it on my trusty knee board. I claimed Mayday Mayday, 714 Zulu Gulf at 6500 ft just outside of Perryville Airport with impending engine failure. Even though I was transmitting on 7600, I received numerous responses. In the meantime, I reassured Sue that we had plenty of altitude to glide to the airport without any power.
I remained at 6500 ft until directly over the airport and circled the runway to pattern altitude. I positioned myself to land on runway two zero. The thought ran through my head, "hey, wait... where's the wind coming from, would it be better to land on zero two?" But then the thought left my brain at Vne (never exceed speed). I just needed to land the sucker.
There was an A&P (airplane/power plant mechanic) on duty and he briefly checked out the plane. All seemed normal. The right sump had some debris in the fuel, though. When I fueled up at Sikeston, maybe their tanks were low and I picked up some debris? (yes, 100LL w/blue tint... I pumped the correct fuel) Others asked if I leaned the mixture. I was told it's good practice to lean the mixture over 3000 feet. It didn't dawn on me at the time. I've not leaned the mixture any other time at that altitude. I guess that could have been the problem. Or, carburetor ice could have been the culprit.....
I called the airport where I rented the plane and requested someone pick us up and fly the plane back. They obliged without question. The 172 nicely equipped with a GPS, auto-pilot and plush seats engine cranked and cranked and cranked. We sat flooded while the plane I had problems with circled the pattern waiting for us. How ironic. After some 15 minutes or so, we were off. The pilots knew the controllers in class B and prearranged our getting vectored to our destination.
All in all, the flight was a great experience. I logged 2.9 hours of cross country time as PIC. I have several tips to enter into my "Flying Tips" list. And, I spread the word about "The Ninety-Nines Fly for Breast Cancer Cure" event. Best of all, I'm here to talk about it.
We were tooling along at 6500 ft. The plane was pleasantly trimmed out, gages were all reading normal, checkpoints were appearing on time. Then, I noticed a slight power reduction as if someone was tugging on the throttle and pushing it back in. My first instinct was to look for an airport or landing spot. It just so happened our next checkpoint was an airport. It was the same airport we didn't see flying to Sikeston at 5500 feet. I don't know if we could see it this time because we were higher or because we were on course, or both. At any rate, it was reassuring I had it in site right when I felt the tug. I didn't say any thing to my sister. She was nervous already and I could see she didn't notice anything different. At first, I headed right for the airport. I contemplated on getting back on track because my course was to take me between class "D" and under "B", but,...........there it was again. I wasn't imagining things. I definitely felt loss of power. I definitely heard loss of power. What's baffling was the gages didn't read as such. RPM's remained at 2300. Oil pressure and temperatures were in the green. Suction was working. Magnetos checked normal. Fuel tanks were filled before leaving.
My sister asked, "Aren't we supposed to be going that way?" as she pointed north and looked at the map. I calmly responded, "No, we're going to land." Again, the loss of power reared it's ugly head, only my sister felt it that time. I tuned in to 7600 (as opposed to 7700 duh... a bit frazzled was I?). For the life of me, I couldn't think of the radio frequency 121.5. I found it on my trusty knee board. I claimed Mayday Mayday, 714 Zulu Gulf at 6500 ft just outside of Perryville Airport with impending engine failure. Even though I was transmitting on 7600, I received numerous responses. In the meantime, I reassured Sue that we had plenty of altitude to glide to the airport without any power.
I remained at 6500 ft until directly over the airport and circled the runway to pattern altitude. I positioned myself to land on runway two zero. The thought ran through my head, "hey, wait... where's the wind coming from, would it be better to land on zero two?" But then the thought left my brain at Vne (never exceed speed). I just needed to land the sucker.
There was an A&P (airplane/power plant mechanic) on duty and he briefly checked out the plane. All seemed normal. The right sump had some debris in the fuel, though. When I fueled up at Sikeston, maybe their tanks were low and I picked up some debris? (yes, 100LL w/blue tint... I pumped the correct fuel) Others asked if I leaned the mixture. I was told it's good practice to lean the mixture over 3000 feet. It didn't dawn on me at the time. I've not leaned the mixture any other time at that altitude. I guess that could have been the problem. Or, carburetor ice could have been the culprit.....
I called the airport where I rented the plane and requested someone pick us up and fly the plane back. They obliged without question. The 172 nicely equipped with a GPS, auto-pilot and plush seats engine cranked and cranked and cranked. We sat flooded while the plane I had problems with circled the pattern waiting for us. How ironic. After some 15 minutes or so, we were off. The pilots knew the controllers in class B and prearranged our getting vectored to our destination.
All in all, the flight was a great experience. I logged 2.9 hours of cross country time as PIC. I have several tips to enter into my "Flying Tips" list. And, I spread the word about "The Ninety-Nines Fly for Breast Cancer Cure" event. Best of all, I'm here to talk about it.
