Skates97

One of the articles is saying that it is believed it clipped a power line before crashing. Power was knocked out to much of the neighborhood by the crash site and they were working to restore power. https://www.chron.com/houston/article/Airplane-crashed-in-west-Harris-County-13578713.php

Not SD card, his CB club membership card. Anyone who can afford to lose a GoPro doesn't belong in the CB club, but an Apeman, that would be livable. I think I picked up the first of the two Apeman cameras that I have on a lightning deal after Thanksgiving in 2017 for about $30 for the whole package. Figured at that price even if it was junk I wouldn't be too upset. I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality and battery life.

I use my GoPro only inside, but have a couple of the Apeman cameras that I play around with outside. I honestly can't tell the difference in the videos that the GoPro takes and the ones from the Apeman. The battery life on the Apeman is much better too, and for under $70 for the camera, a couple batteries, a bunch of mounts, and a case you can't really go wrong. You can probably even keep your CB Card... https://smile.amazon.com/APEMAN-Underwater-Waterproof-Camcorder-Accessories/dp/B07BF76DSX/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1549053803&sr=8-4&keywords=apeman

Nope, big storm system moving in. I was hoping to fly somewhere tomorrow but that isn't going to happen. Expecting it to start raining tomorrow (1.5" in LA area) and not stop really until Tuesday afternoon. Big Bear is supposed to get a bunch of snow. So... If you are going to be in the Vegas area until the 12th, how about Big Bear on the 9th? It is currently forecasting 63° and sunny for that Saturday. It would be beautiful with all the snow still on the mountains.

Mooneyspace has been very good to me over the past few years since I joined. Glad to be able to give back a little, hope the lights work out for you.

Today's flight didn't leave the ground. I made the 5 minute drive from work to the new hangar and my wife and son met me there. The plan was to go up for a sunset flight along the coast. Everything looked good in pre-flight, including the recently lubed coffee grinder beacon. Pulled the plane out, everyone climbed in and started it up. I tuned in the ATIS and before I could finish listening to it there was a terrible electrical burning smell... Bad news. No smoke, just the smell. Shut down and everyone climbed out. Tried to find where the smell was coming from but couldn't locate it. Got back in and just turned on the master and started with different switches to see if I could find it but alas there was no new smell, just the lingering smell. Thinking the last thing done on the plane was the beacon I got out and reached through the storm window to turn on the beacon, the lights were bright but it wasn't turning. Opening up the side panel the acrid smell was very strong in the empennage, the motor was fried. We missed seeing a beautiful sunset from the air, but I was very glad it gave up the ghost on the ground, it would have been much more stressful to have that burning electrical smell fill the cabin in the air...

Well, it is a two person job in my plane which involved the aforementioned skinny kid that lives rent free in the house. Given strict instructions not to put any pressure on any of the tubes he was a huge help. Everything went back together and it was working great, spinning faster and smoother than previously. Sadly, it died completely, motor fried shortly after starting up for an evening sunset flight tonight so looks like it is going to have to be replaced.

Ok, this isn't an aviation joke, but with all the talk over in another thread about how cold it is where some of you are I thought you might get a laugh out of it. Enjoy the "Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler." Having lived in a lot of snow I have a hard time reading through it without crying because I'm laughing so hard. Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler, written by someone who just moved back to snow country. December 8 6:00 PM It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our hot chocolate and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds a gain. I love snow! December 9 We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life! December 12 The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry-we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor. December 14 Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so. December 15 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all. December 16 Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt real bad. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel. December 17 Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room. December 20 Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying. December 22 Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white stuff fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to go to the bathroom. By the time I got undressed, went to the bathroom and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think he is lying. December 23 Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying. December 24 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the beast who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow with his truck and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the snowplow. December 25 Merry Christmas! 20 more inches of the slop tonight - Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave. December 26 Still snowed in. Why did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves. December 27 Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes. December 28 Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The WIFE is driving me crazy!!! December 29 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am? December 30 Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his rear-end. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted. December 31 I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling. January 8 Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

I'm not with you Hank. It was a chilly 60°F this evening so I wasn't as warm as I would like with just a polo shirt. Saturday getting settled into the new hangar it was too warm, 80°F. I've done cold, lived in Alaska, New Jersey, Utah, and Colorado growing up. In Alaska as a kid and in the winter we didn't drive anywhere without couple sleeping bags and other supplies in the vehicle just in case. I have a "Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler" somewhere on my computer. I'll have to find it and post it in that joke thread for all you guys up north.

Are we still talking about flying?

Well @Air pirate... Now you have been officially introduced to the dark side of Mooneyspace...

Yes, when I switch it on at idle I watch the volts on my engine monitor drop. Glad I have manual gear/flaps, a couple less things pulling power. I want to move to LED but there have been some other things on the plane this past year that ate up discretionary funds. I know, and one day I will. That day is hopefully not today.

Much cheaper, and at least this way you can lock it up in a hangar, walk away, and come back when you want. I think there are laws against doing that with a girlfriend... Oh, and it will be just how you left it when you return.

Are you talking about LED bulbs for the rotating beacon? If there are I haven't been able to come up with any through searches. Eventually I would like to replace it with a LED strobe but that is quite a way down the list of things, especially as long as I can keep it working. Mine has a collar on it, and I recall a retaining ring but it looks much different than Chris'. I'll mess around with it tonight when I'm there assuming I don't have to crawl inside, that would be a job for the skinny 14yo kid that lives rent free in my house.

My coffee grinder beacon works well, at least it has been. I would like to replace it but not right at the moment. Last time I flew it was rotating slowly when first turned on but after a few minutes was up to speed. Searching through old threads I found a post from @carusoam (pretty good odds there ) talking about cleaning and re-lubing the beacon. My question is how? Take the lens and retaining ring off the outside? Do I have to crawl inside the empennage and go at it from that side? I am thinking that perhaps it needs needs to be re-lubed and might last me a bit longer.

If you are rebuilding yours take the opportunity to lube the cable. It should slide nice and easy when operating it. I don't think mine had seen any lube in 50 years. (Something I wish I had known...) It's a long thread, but some of the guys offered some great insight.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I don't find a takeoff busy or a go-around wild. I have the same plane as well (love everything manual). On takeoff I find myself feeling like I am waiting to do things. I don't really think much about keeping the wings level and runway heading, that is just part of flying. Just like I don't really think about staying in my lane going down the road, it's just part of driving. Take off Pre-takeoff checklist complete, nothing to do but take the runway, push the throttle in, and stay centered (right rudder) while speed builds and glancing at engine monitor. Gently pull back and I'm airborne Raise gear (takes about a second) Wait some more until I get to 400' AGL, flip lever up to retract flaps and turn off electric fuel pump. Wait some more until I get to 800' AGL to make my turn (unless I'm given an early turnout, noise abatement procedures, etc...) Continue climbing to whatever my cruise altitude is at which point I adjust the prop and lean it out Go-around Push the throttle forward, some forward pressure on the yoke, right rudder, and start turning the trim wheel (Love the manual trim, it can be adjusted very quickly) Positive rate of climb retract gear and then flaps Wait until I get to 800' AGL and make my turn in the pattern Agree, one of the things I did on my first few flights for my PPL and later in transition training was practice go-arounds at altitude. CFI would tell me what altitude the ground was for the exercise and I would fly a normal pattern with the assumed altitude as my ground level. At some point on final (I'm keeping a watch on the altimeter) he would say "go around." Sometimes it was 50' above the set altitude, sometimes 5-10', always mixed up. Goal was to not bust the "ground level."

Me too, never had my Samsung tablet overheat, even in the summer in CA/UT/AZ in direct sunlight.

Sure

I recently put some LED lights under my glareshield and removed the torpedo lights. Probably a year and a half ago I converted my torpedo lights to LED following @Raptor05121's do it yourself guide. They worked using the old rheostat for dimming, I think because there is a regular bulb in my CDI. They can be really bright, I actually colored in the red lenses on them a little with a sharpie to dim them so that it balanced with the post lights better. If anyone wants them let me know. It is a single wire that hooks up, the ground is supplied through the metal balls that they mount to.

I second that! John, these are amazing, you truly have a talent.

http://flightenhancements.com/index.html @takair here on MS is the one that developed it. I'm going to be going that route once the AV-30's are available and then I will pull my vacuum system.

This was my exact line of reasoning when I decided to just put a PCU5000 in. Shop swapped out the governors, no downtime, and I was able to sell my old one as a core and recover $175 for it.

Yes, Mooneys are fast and I regularly fly to Phoenix and Salt Lake, not short little breakfast hops. And yes, everywhere around here you need ADS-B, things I already know. My question was about what might have failed, not how to spend my money or make a plan. If it's the encoder I can have one for $50 and the Skybeacon less the rebate has me complaint for about 1 AMU. Given all the upgrades going on I can pick up a spare transponder for not much if I want to down the road just in case it goes belly up. Thanks for this, will take a look at connections and wires and have my guy do a transponder check to see if we can narrow this down. They could see the transponder (location) there was just no mode C (altitude) in the reporting.

I don't have a strap over there but just grab the center post with my left hand and door frame with my right hand. I'm just glad I get to sit in the left seat, it is much easier to get in and out of than the right seat.