Silly moment in DA40

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Pehu
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by Pehu »

Not sure if this is silly, more like dangerous. Well, now it seems a bit silly too, after some time has passed.

Started IR school flight with maybe one of the most senior Flight Instructors in Finland. We both checked the plane, propeller, wings, pitot etc. But missed one thing. Both of us.

While taxiing on the apron for about 100-200 meters, there was one guy running towards us and waving to cut the engine power. We did and stopped the plane. After opening the canopy were were told that the towbar is still attached to the front wheel.

Normally, we don't keep the towbar connected when the aircraft is outside hangar. One technician used to leave it always attached. The FI and me BOTH looked the aircraft and still failed to notice the red towbar. Luckily the taxiing speed was low and there were no bumps on our way, so the towbar didn't jump to the propeller. And luckily there was someone who noticed it from the office windows when we were taxiing.

Just a reminder that it can happen to anyone. Even with two people making the checks. Good thing is that I nowadays kick the front tire to remind me to check it as part of my personal mental checklist ;)

PS the mixed intercom headsets is pretty standard once per year occurence :)
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gordsh
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by gordsh »

Wow Pekka, that was a good catch.
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ultraturtle
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by ultraturtle »

gordsh wrote:Taxi the plane back to XU and started troubleshooting radios, avionics, etc...no change. After about 30 minutes of troubleshooting we decide to check the headset plugs... Voila..headset plugs were semi crossed, one of his plugged into my jack and one of mine plugged into his. Never felt so silly and due to the always cumbersome headset wire maze every thing just seemed to look plugged in OK.
Similar buffoonery on my part when I donned my wife's headset instead of my own, and she mine. Same admonishments of "Carrier, no voice". Embarrassingly limped down the active and cleared at the first taxiway to straighten it out, and it took nearly as long to do so. My wife will never trust my ability as an aviator again.
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Colin
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by Colin »

The towbar slip up happened to a DA40 on the ramp at Western Aero, the dealer that sold me our DA40. It was still owned by the dealer. Complete engine tear down and everything.
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by krellis »

Left the towbar attached one time on our Katana. Since the Rotax is so quiet, we heard the towbar bouncing on the concrete and stopped immediately.

I have since made it a rule that the towbar never leaves my hands unless it is hanging on the hook on the wall or is in the baggage compartment of the plane.
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Rich
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by Rich »

Installed the cable extensions today. Cleaned up the rats nest considerably. Stratus is still in the same location at the moment. These are 5 ft. cables, so a lot of flexibility with routing.
Rats nest - before
Rats nest - before
rats nest - after
rats nest - after
routing behind the seats
routing behind the seats
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Colin
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by Colin »

I like my Stratus in the luggage compartment. Sees through the plastic of the plane's body just as easily as it did the plastic of the canopy.
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gordsh
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by gordsh »

Rich...can you actually reach your POH from the back of your seat?
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Rich
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by Rich »

gordsh wrote:Rich...can you actually reach your POH from the back of your seat?
Sure, can't you? :D
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rich
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Re: Silly moment in DA40

Post by Rich »

Colin wrote:I like my Stratus in the luggage compartment. Sees through the plastic of the plane's body just as easily as it did the plastic of the canopy.
For many years I've been in the habit of only having the Stratus in the plane when I'm using it. Otherwise it's removed and sits on my desk at home. One of the reasons has to do with it having temperature limits that are fairly restrictive. For me mostly the concern is on the low end. -20 degC isn't unheard of around here and the 0 degF for operating temps is even more so. So being able to easily remove/install remains a factor for parts of the year.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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