Johe 02 Sorry mate i didn't explain myself very well as i was running out of time. The 'simple blockage' that i was thinking of was a bit of paint from the inside of a 44 gallon drum. Fortunatly the pilot (not me) put it down without any damage, not even to his pride. But the pilot commented that it just stopped. Maybe this isn't a problem in england, do you ever fill up from a drum?
I got the same story from another 5000 hr pilot just three days ago (the story was a couple of years old) "the engine just stopped? I still don't know why."
Water in the fuel? It can happen I know someone wo still has a sore back because of it. No coughing either (the engine that is).
Your right about the oil line though that was a bad example i'd like to think that one of the three warning systems (Are we still talking R22)would be picked up by the pilot.
One more to be aware of though is the belts coming off if the sheaves haven't been lined up correctly. Apparently the engine takes off and the blades don't. This is very very unlikely.
These stories are from the last ten years. And I believe your right about the most likely problem being a Mag failure (personally saw three last year. I was only a pax in one) or a valve problem (only heard of one in my area in the last year). The engineers tell me by the way that the valve issues are caused by not cooling the engine down or warming them up correctly. And if treated correctly the engines in the 22 is bullet proof so to speak.
As for turning the fuel off on the pad I'm still yet to see it personally but i'm led to believe it just stops no spluttering. I'm going to have to try it before i can be sure but unless i've been lied to... I'll get back to you on that one. I know it's not the same as flying but i'm guessing that with less load on the engine than the engine would run longer before stopping.
My point is that while the engine stopping stone cold dead may be a small probability it is still a possibility and one that shouldn't be discounted.
Safe flying ascj
