It pays to wash your plane occasionally!

[danny_galaga]

So a few months ago I was doing a lot of touch n gos on a damp grass strip, so of course got quite a bit of crap under the wings etc. I did a rough spot clean back then but last weekend I decided to give him a proper bath. Once a year whether he needs it or not 😄

 

Well, maybe he needs it more than once a year because when you're washing a plane, you are looking at parts of the plane you don't often look at, or at different angles for things you see all the time.

 

I found three loose bolts on my radiator 😲

 

I know why, and it wasn't because of me. I won't go into that. But whether it's someone's elses fault or not, the buck stops with the pilot. 

 

I had an instructor who got me in the habit of checking random things you may not look at in your 'standard' walk around. I haven't actually picked up anything yet on my plane  doing that (although I did find something on the last hire plane i flew), but I also do it with work vehicles, which have check lists. Sure enough, looking at random things NOT on that list meant I've found a number of faults most other drivers wouldn't notice.

 

But back to the plane. Most of my random checks are INSIDE the engine bay. These bolts are outside the bay. And I haven't done many random checks of the airframe in general.

 

So I'm going to step up those RBTs (random bolt tests 😄 )

Edited Wednesday at 12:56 AM by danny_galaga

[Blueadventures]

My DI includes light push each side of radiator and oil cooler checking for movement also grab and give a shake to the main gear legs and other things.

[IBob]

My test pilot grabbed the cowl through the front airholes and checked it for movement. That was added to my own walkround......

[skippydiesel]

2 hours ago, IBob said:

My test pilot grabbed the cowl through the front airholes and checked it for movement. That was added to my own walkround......

I thought all pre-flight check lists included cowl security, along with fairings, pitot, antenna, etc. I even do a wing & empennage waggle, to check for any movement/sound.😈

[Litespeed]

Do forget the most important check-

 

Is the pilot in the right frame of mind and healthy on the day?

[Flightrite]

Water is something that my planes never see! I use furniture polish after every flight, I clean the underbellies front to back, I like slippery airframes👍

[turboplanner]

14 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

I thought all pre-flight check lists included cowl security, along with fairings, pitot, antenna, etc. I even do a wing & empennage waggle, to check for any movement/sound.😈

They do.

[onetrack]

There has been more than one aircraft crash caused by an improperly secured cowling or fairing, and even canopies, detaching after takeoff. Some of those crashes have been fatal.

 

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/news-items/2014/open-canopy-leads-to-fatal-takeoff

 

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/news-items/2025/flapping-cowling-door-likely-distracted-pilot-prior-jandakot-chipmunk-accident

 

 

[Thruster88]

21 hours ago, onetrack said:

There has been more than one aircraft crash caused by an improperly secured cowling or fairing, and even canopies, detaching after takeoff. Some of those crashes have been fatal.

 

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/news-items/2014/open-canopy-leads-to-fatal-takeoff

 

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/news-items/2025/flapping-cowling-door-likely-distracted-pilot-prior-jandakot-chipmunk-accident

 

 

Unfortunately the cause of crashes following canopy or door opening in flight is pilots not continuing to fly the aircraft. In nearly all cases the aircraft is perfectly capable of continuing flight. There will be a big startle factor and maybe an unusual stick position and force required to keep control. There are many reports available on line from surviving pilots of RV, Lancair, Beech bonanza and baron etc so one can get an idea of what to expect from a certain aircraft type.