Anyone close to Casper WY

[KewFlyer]

Calling all members for help !!

Looking for a Tcrafter in or close to Casper Wyoming or for a A&P IA to do a an inspection.

Any leads are appreciated.

Thanks

Ralph
202-437-1580 cell on Eastern Time

[Steve Green]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

Ralph,

Try Hayes Aviation in Akron, CO (KAKO). 800-945-0161. Its about 220 miles from Casper, but he does (and encourages) owner-assisted inspections and maintenance.

[crispy critter]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

I've met the guys there at Hayes Aviation. Super nice folks. I had to dead stick a taylorcraft into Akron and they were very nice & helpful.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

I agree they know their stuff. Kevin could tell a great hangar flying story about THAT trip... Kevin ; WHAT were u thinking?

[crispy critter]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

I try not to think too much Forrest,it tends to get me in trouble,lol. .....but that trip turned out to be some kind of a mess. Picked up what was supposed to be a newly refurbished, near show quality airplane(not even close) that was supposed to have had a fresh top overhaul(also,not even close). It was suppose to have the Harer STC which it did but it was all wrong. To start with the airplane was a 40 or 41 model with later model paperwork and 13 rib wings. The engine was an 85 that looked okay on the outside just by a preflight but it still had unbroken paint on the cyl base nuts so I assumed the top had not be preforemed as I was later informed it was supposed to have been. The show quality refurbish/paint was a total joke,I think my kids could have done better with can of latex and some rollers & brushs. The airplane did seem to fly real nice and run strong but it had one of the old stromberg carbs with a mixture that was very tempermental,especially at higher alts. I picked it up on the east coast of Va. and was to deliver it to its new owner in Colorado just west of Denver in the edge of the mountains.....and it almost made it. 10 miles east of Akron,Co and 80 miles east of my final desination it started running a little funny,nothing unusual on this trip because I was flying high and I was occasionally adjusting with the mixture to keep her purring smooth....the mixture didn't fix it this time,in fact it made it worse. Tried carb heat and that didn't help either. I assumed I had a plug trying foul and I was now 8 miles from Akron so I figured I would go ahead and make a stop there & check it out just to be safe even though I had plenty of fuel to get it all the way to my final stop. Then I started to smell burning oil. I started looking around and noticed oil running down the bottom of the pilots side window that was barely noticable without turning all the way around and looking at the very bottom corner of the window. About the same time I started to notice the oil pressure starting to drop very slowly. Now I'm 6 miles from Akron,about 5000-6000agl(keeping my alt just to be safe),airport is in sight,several students in the pattern and I turned off the gas and cut the mags. I radioed that I was 5 miles east,dead stick and would be entering the pattern shortly. Everyone started to get down and out fof the way and asking me if I needed emergency services,etc. I told them I was fine,go ahead and contine there pattern work and when I was close I'd let them know....they thought I was nuts. I got over the airport and had to make 3 complete wide circles before I lost enough alt to set up a normal approch,lol. Then I made a tight base to final,landed long on purpose,turned on the taxi way and liked about 10 feet making it all the way to the back side of the apron to a set of chauks that were laying there near the edge of the pavement...damn,just 10 more feet and it would have been perfect,lol. I got out of the airplane and there was a stream off dotted oil that followed me in and within 5 minutes there was a large puddle under the airplane. Upon closer inspection the oil screen was loose,the oil tank was hanging by only 3 or 4 nuts that were very loose and you could move the oil tank back & forth with your hand. There was no safty wire on the oil tank nuts,no lock washers or nothing. After removing the cowl and looking things over ever closer I was surprised the damn thing even run enough to get me across the Smokey's and here I was over half way across the country,lol. The end result was a really big mess between the buyer & seller and a lot of expense for both.

[KewFlyer]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

Thanks all for the help. I do appreciate it.

Regards,

Ralph

[astjp2]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

I am in Ogden Ut, if that is close enough for you, give me a shout on a PM. Tim

[waltermrich]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

Thats a story for AOPA or Sport Aviation

[crispy critter]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

I don't think AOPA or Sport Aviation would want to get involved in this story...it goes a lot further then what I mentioned above but the rest is not my story to tell,so we'll leave it at that.

[KewFlyer]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

Thanks to all.

Hayes Aviation in Akron Co is filled with great people ready to help out. Thanks for the advice.

I also contacted Aaron Gerlock, A&P IA (307-259-1550) who is also a great guy and very willing to help. He does annauls, repairs, etc... all around he area..Vegas to Oregon to Iowa.. a flying mechanic !! priceless !!!

FYI for the forum..... hope this will help someone else.

Ralph

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

come by the camp fire at the Alliance Fly-In for the rest of Kevins story. That airplane was basically destroyed after the court settlement.

[Pearson]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

To start with the airplane was a 40 or 41 model with later model paperwork and 13 rib wings.

There is a disassembled Taylorcraft being advertised on Barnstormers right now that fits this description. I think they are advertising it as a 1946 BC12D, but the pictures show a prewar fuselage and the wings look like 13 ribs.

[Steve Green]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

That has got to be a different aircraft from the one Kevin is talking about, which was dismantled, with numerous parts going their separate ways.

[crispy critter]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

Yep,the one I was talking about never flew again.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Anyone close to Casper WY

I used two of the sheet metals screws on my ship.