Well, the red line is definitely there, right where we predicted (at 2550 rpm) and you were definitely over it. Not good.
What makes it worse is that you apparently have a habit of setting your cruise power based on the ASI (you wanted to get 90 knots) instead of the RPM gauge. That's not as it's done by the book but it's actually a bit dangerous too: Suppose there is a block in your pitot/static system somewhere (insect in pitot tube - it happens!) then the ASI is underreading and you would be overspeeding the engine, even with a correct RPM gauge, to get the desired airspeed. The exact same thing would happen if your airframe is somehow "dirtier" than normal, either because of bugs and other dirt, or something else that increases the drag (wheel pants taken off for maintenance for instance).
Next time, at the top of the climb, first set the cruise attitude, let the aircraft accelerate (under full power) to an approximate cruise speed, then set cruise RPM. Trim, and then verify that your cruise RPM gives you the desired cruise performance (ASI).
Last edited by BackPacker; 17th July 2009 at 22:38.