Perplexing failure mode of a C182 engine
Today I was flying our club's C182 towplane.
Although the alternator seemed to be charging OK, the battery voltage kept dropping off, until the engine wouldn't start. We tried using jumper cables; we could hear the battery contactor closing when the BAT switch was turned on and could hear the starter solenoid engaging upon turning the key, but the engine still wouldn't turn over.
We managed to keep the operation going by hand-propping a couple of times, but prior to the third-time, it was noticed that the prop would not turn backwards!
So we stopped flying. Any thoughts on what has happened? Jammed starter?