View Full Version : Moutain Wave Turbulance
What can i pilot do after encoutering moutain wave turbulance ?
Why do put fuel selector valve on left or right after shutting down the engine?
Why is it important to ground check the magneto's?
Airbus Girl
25th Jan 2009, 19:15
Mountain wave - read up on it, so you know the patterns you are likely to get, and how to tell if there might be wave nearby. It usually occurs when the wind hits the front of the mountain, then the other side of the mountain is gonna be turbulent. So if you move upwind of the mountain you will be OK. Otherwise you will be riding it out. If you are in the top of the wave, going along it then no problem. If you are in the bottom of the wave, going along it no problem. If you are trying to fly across the waves then you will hit the bumpy stuff. Key: know the wind direction. Wave on its own is not a problem and using the wave whilst in a light aircraft can save you some fuel :E
Fuel selector - is switched regularly to ensure both tanks are working. If you've just taxiied in on one, then you know its working. If you switch the selector after shutting down, the next time you start up you'll be testing the other tank...and so on.
You should ground check the magnetos to ensure they are both working - it has been known that you switch to one magneto and both keep running......or switch to one and the engine cuts out (if you really haven't been paying attention!). So its to ensure the system is working properly.
bucket_and_spade
25th Jan 2009, 19:32
Plus, for the fuel selector switching, to keep the fuel balanced and, more importantly, ensure the engine doesn't quit after using all the fuel in one side!
Northbeach
26th Jan 2009, 06:28
Why is it important to ground check the magneto's?
If you are asking about checking the magneto just prior to shutting down the engine, then here is an answer.
If the ignition switch is “off” and the magneto’s ground is open (malfunctioned) the magneto is electrically alive, and capable of delivering a spark, regardless of what position the ignition switch is in. The danger is that if somebody moves the propeller the magneto will send a spark to the cylinder, if you happen to have any fuel present it can (and has) start the engine.
By moving the ignition switch momentarily to off, and observing the engine beginning to shut down (due to a loss of ignition) you have verified the magneto’s wiring is intact Therefore you can be reasonably sure when you place the ignition switch to "off" the magneto is incapable of delivering a spark.
so from both first bring the mag switch to off then back to both and check what??
And SOP's days keep the fuel tank on right or left tank after shutting down the engine.Before starting the engine bring the fuel selector on both..If really confusing..
What sort of weather charts can tll you the possibility of mountain wave turbulance.I have some information about it:sad:
dixi188
26th Jan 2009, 11:11
It's a long time since I played with light A/C, but I remember on the Rockwell 112/114, that if you left the fuel selector on "Both" when parked, fuel would transfer from one wing to the other.
Next day the A/C would be sitting one wing down and all the fuel would be in that side.
I think they fitted "Check valves" to stop this but these can leak a bit over time, so selecting L or R should stop this happening.
Hope this helps.