yakbird
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Warwickshire UK
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 Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:41 am Post subject: Yak Plug Blowout |
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Russian spark plugs don't always 'blow-out' when they fail....
This is what happens when combustion gasses work up the inside of the ceramic core. The housing is steel.
Then when this happens to be a plug on a lower cylinder...at the front...the molten metal and burning gasses find their way right into the air box.
First the engine quits as it is now being fed with burning gas at several hundred degrees C, then the cockpit fills with smoke as the ignition harnesses burn away and then the air box starts to melt. You don't yet know this however.
You look out for a suitable field and realise that you are at 1500 ft, in the UK, in January, with a layer of snow everywhere and no discernible fields.
You start to wish you had taken up painting as a hobby.
At about this time your Fairy Godmother (who has been sitting patiently on your shoulder waiting for just this kind of situation) reminds you of the location of a big GA field just a few miles away with Fire and Rescue and ATC, it's your only chance.
At the same time the engine coughs and splutters and you have the foresight to pull the prop fine to unload the engine which now hovers perilously near to quitting again but seems to be just able to provide enough power maintain your altitude... occasionally.
You open the canopy one notch as the smoke is making it difficult to see let alone breath. You know this is only likely to increase the airflow to any potential fire but decide that breathing is quite important and as your instrument rating is expired you need to be able to see outside.
For the next five minutes (200 years????) you imagine you hear and feel every missing cylinder, which is obviously the precursor to complete engine disintegration, when suddenly the airfield comes into sight.
For the next three minutes (120 years??) you can only imagine that your airspeed is zero as the airfield just won't get any nearer, then suddenly you are over the threshold.
You make the best landing of your aviating history (that must be the trick), thank the Fire Crew and go an have cup of tea.
So, there it is, not always a big bang to let you know what has happened. 
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