REFLECTOR: Engine failure causes

[Brian Michalk]

I forgot to mention that I have to do the test you just proposed.  I 
never had any indication of failure before, and now I need to do this 
test even if it means rigging a jig to support engine cooling.

nmflyer1 at aol.com wrote:
> Brian,
>
> I shall print your notes/diagram and ponder it for a while. Did you 
> happen to pull the plugs and see if you actually get a fuel starvation 
> or over rich indication?  I plan on starting my first flight with 
> fresh clean plugs, just so that I can double check that very issue.
>
> I too have injection and a return line. Airflow performance built my 
> fuel pump setup (2 parallel electric pumps) but the return line does 
> not go back to the sump. Instead it feeds right back in before the 
> pumps. They say this keeps the flow up but avoids fuel frothing.
>
> I also have the backup fuel vent/valve inside the cabin... just in case.
>
> I recently went to an EAA meeting here at Mid Valley. The feature that 
> night was a retired theoretical flight test engineer. He and his wife 
> have built at least 10 homebuilts (and they still have them all).
> One of the things that came out of his experience probably relates 
> well to your situation, mine, and many others.
> He suggests running the aircraft at takeoff power (tied down, with 
> spotters) for at least 2-3 minutes. His experience suggests that this 
> test will reveal items that may only raise their head on the first 
> flight, in climb out... the worst time for a Gotcha to show up.
>
> I wondered how on earth I will manage to hold my beast still for that 
> run, but your data and experience tell me that I NEED to do that somehow.
>
> I appreciate your continued openness on this and hope to hear of your 
> discoveries.
>
> Best,  Kurt Winker