TODAY WHILE FLYING MY AERMACHI THE LANDING GEAR FAILED TO COME DOWN, I CHOSE A BELLY LANDING IN THE GRASS, WHICH TURNED OUT VERY GOOD, I DID AN EMERGANCY SHUT DOWN ON THE APPROACH. AFTER I BLEW ALL THE GRASS OUT OF THE INLETS I PROCEDED WITH THE COOL DOWN AND CHOSE TO FIRE IT BACK UP JUST FOR KICKS. I'D NEVER SHUT IT DOWN LIKE THIS BEFORE( FIGURED IT MIGHT LEAVE MORE LUBERCATION FOR THE NEXT START). ANY WAY THE PLUG WAS BAD AND OFCOURSE IT WOULDN'T START. IS THIS NORMAL DURRING THIS TYPE OF SHUT DOWN? SCOTT

Scott,

I've used the emergency shut down procedure on a couple of occassions some for practice and others for those moments of panic as my bird rolls off the end of the runway into the funk!!

however, after a thorough inspection of the intake area of my airplane my engines have never failed to restart. I've never found the need to replace the plugs on any of my engines ( knock on wood, I guess ).

I'm not one of those 50 lb head guys that could probably compute the thermal shock effect on the engine during the rapid shut down, so my guess is you were a recipient of the Old Gus Grissom syndrome. "it just blew"

any of you smart guys have any better ideas?

sorry, I'm not much help here Scott but I've been very fortunate with all aspects of engine operations.

replace the plug and fire it up. if you had had grass down the intakes perhaps you ingested some fod that may have knocked the coils loose but I doubt it. I've seen Eddie Weeks DC-10 doing engine run ups in the grass at Superman. The engines swallow that stuff and keep on going.

good luck,
buck

THANKS BUCK FOR THE INFO, NICE TO KNOW THAT THE GRASS IS FORGIVING, MAYBE IT 'LL BAIL HAY? HA
SCOTT