Flight Forum

I would like to thank AOPA Flight Training and Jeff Pardo for the December 2007 article, "Lean It: Cleaning a fouled plug."

I am a low-time, post-solo student and encountered a fouled plug today during runup. It was eye-opening to feel the engine shake the airplane, see a drop of 300 to 400 rpm instead of the normal 100 to 125, and hear a sound like someone had dropped a wrench into a cylinder when I switched from Both mags to Right (the check of the left mag was unremarkable). I didn't know what was going on at first, but quickly thought of a fouled plug. I considered taxiing back to the FBO to have a mechanic check this, or forget flying altogether today, when I remembered the article that I had just read in Flight Training, and thought, hey, let's give it a try!

I increased the rpm and leaned the mixture. When the engine was running smoothly, I went to full rich mixture, reduced rpm, and started over with my runup checklist. This time the runup was unremarkable.

While it may seem a small thing to most of the readers, it was a significant thing for me in that I was able to actually troubleshoot a problem and resolve it quickly on my own, my first! I know there are other readers in my position that would appreciate an experience such as this. AOPA Flight Training is a great source of information and encouragement, especially when I read about other students and sometimes seasoned pilots stumbling--and learning--in exactly the same way I am. It's very encouraging.
Mark Estrada
Rohnert Park, California

In his article "Lean It: Cleaning a Fouled Plug" (December 2007 AOPA Flight Training), Jeff Pardo describes a good lesson learned. However, I find it shocking that "clearing fouled plugs to correct a rough runup" was never taught to him during his primary training, to say nothing about his commercial training. Most training airplanes, including the most popular Cessna and Piper models, routinely can experience fouled plugs due to the lower power settings used during taxi operations and/or failure by one or more pilots to lean properly at altitude during a previous flight.

If you are never taught this simple procedure to clear the plugs, then you may be faced with unnecessarily cancelled flights. Of course, one should never go ahead and fly with a rough-running engine no matter how simple the fix may be. Some hints that can help: Lean the mixture for taxi, and do a postflight runup if your training airplane seems to experience fouled plugs.

Instructors need to do a thorough job in teaching the basics, and clearing fouled plugs during a runup is a basic cure for the "too common" problem of fouled plugs.
Jean Runner
Lakeside, California

Step on the ball!

I'm having fun reading AOPA Flight Training. I've been teaching for about 43 years now and have never seen so many uncoordinated turns in my life. Right in front of me on page 31 of the January issue, bigger than life, is a glass panel, and the aircraft is in a 22- or 23-degree bank to the left. Oops! A slipping turn to the left. I think that a few more bucks spent with an old guy like me would be money well spent. Nice airplane, but the pilot can't fly it well. Step on the ball!
J.R. Casian
Hampton Falls, New Hampshire

Errata

The wrong photograph accompanied "Success Story: Byron Hixon" in the December 2007 issue of AOPA Flight Training magazine. The photo was actually that of Paul Lucken ("Success Story," September 2007). AOPA Flight Training regrets the error.

We appreciate your comments. Letters should be no more than 300 words and must include your name and address. E-mail letters to [email protected] or mail to AOPA Flight Training, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701. Letters may be edited and will be printed as space permits.