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Old 12-04-2005 | 01:07 AM
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Wayne22
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From: Strathcona county, AB, CANADA
Default RE: Emergency?

I don't fly anymore, but I can share a recent one my son had in a Navajo (some details omitted to protect the parties involved):

They had an oil leak problem at their destination and the plane was in the hanger all day. The mechs found two probable sources of the leak. He did a test flight, and it seemed okay. They missed their cargo run back to _______, so they dead headed back empty.

15 minutes out, they noticed oil coming out the left engine again..Mike told his co-jo they would monitor it...the words were no sooner out his mouth, when POOF! Flames coming out the vents and cowl flaps!!! They went through the "inflight fire" checklist VERY quickly, and got the engine shut down and feathered...which had the fortunate side effect of stopping the flow of oil spraying on the hot turbo..Flames went out, engine cooled down and they limped back to _______ on one engine (at 12,000') at a mere 100 knots...They continued on their Instrument flight plan and greased the landing, with about 8 airliners waiting,( even got a complement from one of the crews on the nice landing) and the firetrucks along side the runway.. He was able to taxi back to his ramp without stopping and shut it down. [Can't taxi a Navajo on one engine once it has stopped - it will go around in circles.]

The left side of the fuselage, wing and nacelle were covered with most of the engine's 12 qt oil capacity. They whisked it into the hanger and found a crack on the #3 cylinder. This was a brand new engine on its first day in service!!!
Anyways, junior is back home safe and sound. He found the whole experience very exciting. They do practice drills all the time for such emergencies, and he is d*mned glad they did...he knew exactly what to do.