Lost an Exhaust valve

[cgbiggs]

Cruising at 13,500 and heard/saw a sudden change in rpm, engine started running rough (but not too bad, obviously missing on one cylinder) not a mag issue but just on the right engine. Dumped into KTRM and found the #1 cyl exhaust valve had lost 40% of the tulip. No compression of course. It touched the piston lightly 6 times and went out the exhaust pipe (I figure .15 of a second at the rpm I was at for six hits). 1500 hrs on cylinder, good compressions 90 hrs ago. Changed cylinder and all is well with the world. Sterling Jet Service in KTRM did the work and they were fantastic in speed of repair. Great folks to work with.

[N3322G]

Cliff,

Great to hear such a positive outcome of good decision making and good FBO service

[cgbiggs]

This is why I bought the Twinkie. Just didn't figure I would justify the decision so soon. Had I been in my Mooney, 20 east of TRM like I was it would have been much more interesting getting back on the ground.

[steen]

About 15 or so years ago my wife and I were "cruising the west". It was early October and from our base in Illinois we had left in horrible low vis and cold rain, conditions we cruised in at
10,000', solid IFR, until mid Nebraska where we found sun and unlimited VFR for the rest of our 10 day trip. The Aspens were in full color and we flew low level over the ridgetops, enjoying
the vistas, to Durango to spend a day seeing the local sights (highly recommended....we had planned one day and spent two but could have stayed longer).
We launched very early from Durango to catch the sunrise over the monument valley, shiprock peak, painted desert and Lake Powell, all at very low altitudes. It was incredible and only
safe to do in a twin. We stayed the night in Prescott.
Next day we did the early thing again to catch the morning sun on the Grand Canyon, intending to get to Monterey, Cal. for the night. At 6500', about 100' above the granite in SW Arizona,
I heard a loud KAPING on the left side and realized I was holding some right rudder and there was a vibration. MP, RPM, etc. looked normal but #1 had definitely lost power. Sure that it had
swallowed a valve but unsure about shrapnel damage or metal in the oil, I feathered the engine and looked at my options. Hmmmmm. Bull Frog City? How long to get parts there and is there
even a mechanic? This was on Thursday and we were to meet our two sons in LAS on Friday evening. GPS shows LAS 127nm distance so we went there. Landed, went to Millionaire and asked
the mechanic to order a new Lycoming cylinder assembly right now so we can get 10am delivery tomorrow, here's my Visa then we will look at the plane. He did, part came, plane fixed by
Fri. pm,(#4 exhaust valve just as you described) and we left on Sun. pm on schedule after a wonderful weekend with our sons.
You're absolutely right. I love my Twinkie.
Steen

[9089P]

"only safe to do in a twin."

I'm sure this bit of information would come as a great surprise to all the scenic tour operators at Page, the Grand Canyon, etc. who operate nearly exclusively single engine aircraft in part due to the restricted downward vis of a twin.

Don

[steen]

If low enough you don't need downward vis.
Steen

[cgbiggs]

As one who has spent a previous summer flying those "Lake Powell Tour Flights" It did give me pause as to my route around the lake and where I would go (which in a loaded 207 is about a 45 degree glide angle,
The one common factor on our twinkies is how easy they are to work on the engines. A whole world difference from my Mooney.

[9089P]

Hi

We live part of the year in Moab. Out of which airport did you fly your tours? Page? As for altitude, it is your friend everywhere, especially where there are few places to improvise a strip. We left Bullfrog one morning for a MV tour, was very glad we were not over any National park and that the #'s weren't painted on the bottom of the wings.

Good luck, Don

[cgbiggs]

BTW, Bullfrog Airport? Ain't nothing there, not even an FBO It's in the middle of God Knows Nowhere. Cal Black across the lake east at least is attened but no FBO for maintinance.

[cgbiggs]

Flew the lake out of Page Still live in Page Manage the new FBO, Lake Powell Jet Center.

[9089P]

Nah, you are wrong about Bullfrog. We reserve a houseboat from the marina, call them from 20 miles out and the suburban with a/c is there waiting, they even help me tie down. Short trip down the hill and 30 min later we are pulling out beer in hand. A great way to spend a week cruising around the lake looking at time on a monumental scale.

Don

[9089P]

CG,

The bride has family in Saint and we do the flight back and forth from Moab. For grins listen to 122.8. Gotta say that for an uncontrolled airport out in the country Page has a lot of traffic. Have not landed there since the early 80's guessing it has changed a lot. Maybe I'll drop in sometime.

Don

[steen]

Sounds like good times at Bullfrog City, but could they have replaced my #4 cylinder in 24 hours?
Steen

[cgbiggs]

Like I said, Ain't nothin there UNLESS you are going to a boat. Sure They'll come out to get you but nothing else is there. We manage 250 houseboats (privately owned) on the lake and we go there several times a year. We have someone pick us up also. Stop by our new FBO sometime, be glad to meet and greet you. If you haven't been to Page in years you're missing all the new stuff.