by Wood » Tue Aug 17, 2021 9:43 pm
Hi Guys. Thanks for the warm welcome. Well Bryan here’s my story.
Well interesting first solo flight today with my Sonex. After purchasing before I decided to take it up solo I decided to do some high speed taxi check with it to get a feel on what to expect. All went good on the taxi checks. With the winds 050@15 it’s decided to request the option on Rwy 04 for a right hand pattern. 10 degrees of flaps on the takeoff roll tail started to lift off the ground with little effort. Got airborne with ease and a delight to fly. Out of 400 AGL and the engine began to loose power. And the first thing that came to mind was OH NO? I immediately lowered the nose to pick up a little speed and pick my spot in the field ahead. Pulling the throttle right back and then powering up again the rpm started to increase to a max of 2450. called up tower and said I need a turn immediately back for the airport. My engine is failing. As I turned left back to towards the field the engine started to lose power again and another I was looking at another field that a couple of combines were working. Bringing the throttle back again and advancing it again the engine began to gain power giving me another option to continue the turn back for Rwy 18 with a 15 kit quartering tail wing. All the while working the throttle back and forth to bring the power back up as the engine continued to loose power. Direct for the threshold and my first solo landing to a 15 kt quartering tailwind. Landed successfully with little power and taxied back to the ramp. What the hell just happened not my first emergency but definitely and interesting one on the first flight. All in all I must say within that time the aircraft handled beautifully with the exception of the engine crapping out.
After parking the the Sonex it was head scratching time to find out what would have caused that when the other day with the previous owner and I flew it and it was developing tons of power. I’m open to suggestions from the pro here as This is my first airplane purchase and the first Sonex purchase.
Anyways that was my afternoon today.
Airplanes are fun.
Jabiru 2200 with the AeroConversions
Wood
Last edited by
Wood on Tue Aug 17, 2021 10:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Lyncrest Airport - CJL5
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sonex Legacy #0327
Jabiru 2200
Serial # 22A 1130
AeroConversions