08/17/2026
Saturday.... August 15, 2026.... ongoing issue with a cylinder... borescope... and also broken wire to the rotating beacon.... here are some photos.... thank you to Rod, Ben, Jay, Blake, Kash and her hubby......... might be an oil ring, might be a valve guide seal.... the adventure continues... more to report later............ and here is additional commentary: Hanger Report:
I arrived at the gate just before 9:00 and escorted Kash and her husband Adam to the hanger. Kevin, Ben, and Rod were there muttering to themselves. After introductions we gathered around the plane. The goal was to borescope the #4 cylinder and investigate why the beacon CB was continually popping.
First Rod removed ABs tested the beacon and determined it was functioning properly. He then inspected the CB and likewise determined it was functions as it should. So the problem was likely a short somewhere in the wiring between the two. Kash and Adam (who is a general contractor and very handy) began inspecting the wire bundle that runs from the rail along the inner port side of the fuselage. Meanwhile Kevin and Rod removed the upper #4 plug and began borescoping. Pictures to follow.
Using a continuity tester Rod hooked up, Kash and Adam discovered a break in the insulation where the wiring bundle passed through a circular hole in the left-side pillar. This was causing the occasional short and popping the CB. This was repaired (details needed).
(Somewhere in here Jay joined the party)
Finished with the borescope, the cowling was reinstalled. The seats were also reinstalled and in the process Kash was able to figure out how to maneuver the seat and release pin to keep the seat lock into a more forward position, something both she and Amelia had struggled with.
Despite the somewhat inconclusive borescope results (Rod can give further detail) we could clearly see what looks like an oil/carbon trail from one valve down toward the lower plug. This could be causing the fouling while the plane sits. It doesn’t explain the higher than usual iron and chromium readings in the last oil analysis. More investigation is needed.
All in all a very successful work day, as three issues were investigated and two were solved.
