John_Read
06-27-2005, 07:37 AM
The weather was bright and sunny and warm, the air fairly calm - and not too hot for my 532 with the small radiators. I had been experiencing over- heat conditions on climbing out in the un-British summer weather of the previous few days, but this day was fine and I was enjoying the flying.
I arrived near the airfield, rather too high to join at the top of the downwind leg, so I made a low power descent to arrive at circuit height in the right place. All seemed normal until I opened the throttle. No noise. No thrust.
I was prepared to land in the field below, but realised that I could make the runway and land against the traffic flow downwind. The wind was very light, so it did not make a lot of difference which way I was facing, and no one else was in the circuit.
I was pleased to arrive in one piece, albeit with a dead engine. My first actual engine-out landing! THe 532 would not start again immediately, so I could not taxy back, but after I had huffed, puffed and blown my way to the hanger, hauling the gyro behind me, it started again normally.
With hindsight, I realise I had early warning of what was to come. The engine rpm was gradually falling-off "all by itself" in the cruise and I had to increase the throttle setting slightly. But I did not put two and two together. Instead I assumed it was down to slightly too slack throttle friction.
Do not believe anyone who tells you Rotax engines are pretty well proof against carb ice. My experience has taught me otherwise! :rolleyes:
I arrived near the airfield, rather too high to join at the top of the downwind leg, so I made a low power descent to arrive at circuit height in the right place. All seemed normal until I opened the throttle. No noise. No thrust.
I was prepared to land in the field below, but realised that I could make the runway and land against the traffic flow downwind. The wind was very light, so it did not make a lot of difference which way I was facing, and no one else was in the circuit.
I was pleased to arrive in one piece, albeit with a dead engine. My first actual engine-out landing! THe 532 would not start again immediately, so I could not taxy back, but after I had huffed, puffed and blown my way to the hanger, hauling the gyro behind me, it started again normally.
With hindsight, I realise I had early warning of what was to come. The engine rpm was gradually falling-off "all by itself" in the cruise and I had to increase the throttle setting slightly. But I did not put two and two together. Instead I assumed it was down to slightly too slack throttle friction.
Do not believe anyone who tells you Rotax engines are pretty well proof against carb ice. My experience has taught me otherwise! :rolleyes: