[Pilots] MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Officer Report

[Jerry Rosendahl]

*MN Wing AMO Report - 12/3/23*

*1.  Mouse and mouse nest inside airplane cowling!*  Baby it's cold outside
- for humans and critters. Maintenance recently found a mouse and nest
inside the cowling when opening it up for maintenance. The pilot bringing
it in noticed a smell enroute and had an interesting flight. This is a
plane that was routinely flown, it hadn't been sitting a long time. So -
it's time for critter protections in our hangars. Check your hangar for
clues.

[image: IMG_5453.jpg]


*2.  Our 3rd cracked fuel tank "neck".*  I previously sent out an alert
about proper fueling technique - holding the nozzle upright so there is no
stress on the neck of the fuel tank. We just found another crack so this is
3 within a couple months. This takes a plane out of service while the tank
is removed and repaired - at significant expense and loss of flying time.

*3.  Where did the avionics cooling fans go?*  I also previously sent out
information on the preflight checklists for the C172P and N models,
containing an item to verify the avionics cooling fan is operational. Since
the planes that have/will be upgraded with the G650 and 400 no longer
require cooling fans, this is confusing to the pilot doing due diligence in
performing each step on the checklist. We advised NHQ of this issue and I
believe they will be making this change on the ORMS page containing the
checklists. Listed below is what their contact sent back to me, but I don't
see the change on the website yet. At any rate, be advised of this issue.


*If Avionics Fan is Installed (15-17):*

*15. Avionics Power Switch.............On*

*16. Avionics Fan............Check Audible*

*for operation*

*17. Avionics Power Switch.............Off*

*4.  Almost time to remove the engine from N439CP.* This engine is about 26
hours from 2,000 hours total time and will be removed and sent in for
overhaul. The amount of time this plane will be down is unknown as we wait
to hear when we'll get an engine back. Currently Viking Squadron is flying
off these 26 hours. The engine will be removed after it is moved to the
Wing hangar and it will stay there in the back corner until an engine
arrives and is installed. A plane without an engine is completely
off-balance and must be blocked/secured in place very carefully. Working
around this requires caution.

*5.  New piece of equipment is in a few of our airplanes.* The AIF book in
the planes getting the avionics upgrade to G400 gps will now have a
database loader device in a pouch in the front of the book. The G400 uses a
different size of data card that requires this special loader. Your
squadron member who updates the navigation database will be
contacted/trained by Greg Erickson on how to do this.

[image: image.png]


*6.  Cowling blankets, propeller blankets, bug eyes & oil cooler plates -
it must be Winter.* The process of getting these items into all 16
airplanes is ongoing. Blankets and bug eyes should be on all but one
airplane, with a few more now needing their oil cooler plate. The following
airplanes/locations need to contact me about getting their oil cooler
plates installed by maintenance - Mankato N369CP, St. Cloud N695CP and
Duluth N98824.

*7.  Squadron Duty Officer Reports Due.*  Stan/Eval Officer Greg Bestul
provided all DOs with a template to use in a monthly report to me on their
assigned airplane. I have received 4 reports so far, which are due by the
7th of the month. This report is valuable to me and I appreciate everyone
sending them in .

*8.  Year to Date Hobbs hours by Squadron.*  Five squadrons are at or above
the target Hobbs hours (200 hours per fiscal year, 35.1 as of today) -
Pipestone 95.7, 130th 47.7, Red Wing 43.9, Crow Wing 39.4 and Viking 37.8.
Closed runways have been in place in 2 of our locations, no doubt impacting
those squadron's hours. Total flying hours naturally slows down in our
"frozen tundra" but as you can see, some squadrons are getting a good start
for the fiscal year.

*9.  Year to Date Hobbs hours by Airplane.*  N369CP leads the pack with
65.3 hours followed by N439CP with 61.7. Most others fall in between 25 and
58. Lowest numbers are N98824 with 21.7, N50935 with 15.6, N98424 with 14.8
and N828CP with 8.0.

*10.  Current Open Discrepancies.*  Attached is the current list of open
discrepancies in AMRAD. I very much appreciate being contacted before
putting in a discrepancy and the pictures you send of the issue. Several of
the issues relate to the upgrading of our gps units. The remainder are
pretty typical ongoing items.

Please contact me with any comments or questions about Wing maintenance.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Jerry Rosendahl, Lt Col, CAP
MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Officer
651.785.8911
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