not familiar with the NG, but I assume it's similar to the regular DA40. The fan connector is really easy to accidentally disconnect, it has a very light connection, no clip/snap or anything. The glare shield, just unscrew the screws on top, and in the back, then it just slides out under the back ...

and yes, 3 knots does make a huge difference in float time! When I trained, most instructors all just used a generic number '70', and did not adjust for weight.

There is a mic gain setting on most decent headsets now, usually under a tiny screw near the mic itself. Adjusting this has been helpful to get a normal level of intercom chat without clipping for me. There is also a manual squelch setting on the audio panel of the G1000 where you can theoretically ...

it is notable that the gascolator on the DA40 is a bit counterintuitive to remove. When I first got my plane many years ago and tried to remove it myself for inspection, it seemed natural that the ring wound turn "lefty loosey" to remove the whole unit. After much struggling, as I imagine happened ...

Why are you so sure it is a mechanical issue and not a W/B and CG issue? Have you looked at the actual elevator trim tab in full forward and full aft trim position? If it goes through the whole range of motion Up/Down, then it's a weight and balance issue. If you have it in the forward position you ...

Two questions about the Slick magneto mounting hardware:

1. My mounting clamps have always had only the clamp, then a lock washer, then the nut, with no flat washer. Is that standard or did someone way back when forget to put on the plain washers? There is absolutely no IPC diagram for such I can ...

Agree on the feeling! It is quite perplexing how this continues.

Is that with or without the flaps still in T.O.?

Save for noise reduction, does the muffler insert packing have any other function? Mine was replaced many hours ago, had no visible packing that could be seen then (despite others being able to see it in their planes) or ever since with inspection through the tailpipe, and still looks the same with ...

An update to the original posters tutorial: it appears that the Cleveland wheel manual, the Michelin tire manual, and the Goodyear tire manual all say to NOT use soap/lubricant on the bead for installation. The Cleveland wheel manual shows our wheel (40-414A) to be magnesium, and then explicitly ...